Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Herbs 101

So I planted an herb garden on my deck this Spring.  I have basil, Italian flat leaf parsley, tarragon, oregano, sage, chives, rosemary and lavender.  I have spent hours watering, trimming, pulling the evil Japanese beetles off of the basil plant, weeding the pots, fertilizing, the list goes on and on.  Oh, I have been enjoying the herbs too.  The tomato sauce I made on Sunday has some basil, oregano, parsley and sage in it.  I roasted a turkey on Father's Day that had sage, rosemary and tarragon in it as well as lemons and an orange.  My favorite though is slicing a fresh tomato and snipping some basil and oregano and then drizzling everything with olive oil and red wine vinegar.  YUM!

 Now we know that all summers come to an end and soon enough every day won't be 90 degrees with humidities that Houston would be proud of.  So what am I going to do when the cold winds blow and I am growing snow drifts on my deck instead of herbs?

Bon Appetit magazine answered my questions in their last issue with some tips about herbs.

  • Treat fresh herbs like you would treat fresh cut flowers.  Cut the stems at a 45 degree angle and place them in a glass with 2 inches of water in it.  The herbs should last in the fridge for up to two weeks.
  • Dry hard leaf herbs in your microwave.  This will work for thyme, oregano, rosemary and bay leaves.  Work with one variety at a time.  Wash leaves thoroughly and blot them dry.  Arrange leaves in a single layer on a paper towel and microwave in 30 second intervals until the leaves are dry and brittle.
  • Freeze soft leaf herbs in a sealed plastic bag.  This will work for dill, mint, parsley, basil and chives.  They will last in the freezer for up to six months.  If you have a vacuum sealer, this would be a great time to break it out.

So I guess knowing that I will have some of my herbs to use all winter, I won't dread winter as much as I usually do.  Nope, I am already dreading the cold and snow.  I realize I have been whining about the heat and humidity since it got here but I will take it any day of the week over Chicago's winter weather.

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