searchIT 

Herbs are fun and easy to grow. When harvested they make even the simplest meal seem like a gourmet delight. By using herbs in your cooking you can easily change the flavors of your recipes in many different ways, according to which herbs you add. Fresh herbs are great in breads, stews, soups or vegetables. Every time you add a different herb you have completely changed the taste. If you are a beginner start slowly, add just a little at a time adjusting as you go along until you have it just right. You will see in most instances that an individual herb is associated with a particular food item. Basil is paired with tomatoes, Oregano with sauces, Rosemary with lamb and Chives with butter or cream cheese. Of course, none of them are limited to these items, but you will see them paired most often with that particular food. Use your imagination and experiment, experiment, experiment! You can make herb vinegars for salad dressings, marinades, or soups. Herb oils are very useful in cooking whenever a recipe calls for it. Fresh herbs as garnishes dress up any dish making it look truly spectacular. Lay individual sprigs of rosemary over broiled lamb chops. Chop fresh parsley and sprinkle it over the top of your potato salad. The combinations are endless and the outcome delicious. Fresh herbs will keep in the refrigerator for several days but then you must freeze them. They can be frozen by laying them a paper towel and putting them in a plastic bag. Once they are frozen only use them in cooking not as garnishes. A friend of mine washes them, puts them an ice cube tray, covers them with water and then freezes them. When she needs them for soup, stews or sauces she just drops a cube in. My favorite herbs to grow are basil, oregano, lemon balm, parsley and mint. Mint is great but be careful, mint can over run your garden. A tip here would be to bury an empty coffee can and plant the mint in it. The can prevents the mint from “creeping” all through your garden. I love to make herb butters. Take a half of a cup of softened butter and mix in about 4 tablespoons of a fresh herb. Lay out a piece of saran wrap, place the butter in the middle roll the saran wrap up to form a “log” out of the butter. Put in the refrigerator and anytime you need a pat of butter just cut it off the “log”. (Hints for “log” butter: potatoes, bread, steaks, noodles or any kind of sauce). A fresh herb in any salad dressing really makes it sparkle. You can use any herb or a combination, be creative. I learned a trick a long time ago using basil, lemon and avocados to create and instant natural face mask. Put a big handful of basil in a blender and run it on high. Once the basil has been pulverized, throw in a half of an avocado and a large teaspoon of lemon juice, mix until smooth. Wash your face, pat it dry and gently rub the avocado mixture on. Leave it on as long as you like, then use warm water to it wash off. These are just a few ways you can use fresh herbs from your garden. I am sure you will come up with many more. Happy planting. Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved. This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged. By: Mary Hanna

• How To Use Fresh Herbs In A Variety Of Ways | ifood.tv
  How To Use Fresh Herbs In A Variety Of Ways by ifood.tv. Herbs are of many varieties and the degree of aroma in each of them varies hugely. Sohttp://www.ifood.tv/blog/how-to-use-fresh-herbs-in-a-variety-of-ways
• Using Fresh Herbs In A Variety of Ways
  The many uses of fresh herbs introduces you to the many ways of using fresh herbs. You can use them in cooking, to flavor vinegars and oils...http://portal-info-help-abbie-mckeown.ru/page-67042/970585
• Harvesting, Using, and Storing Fresh Herbs
  ... invaluable advice on a wide variety of culinary herbs. ... there are right and wrong ways to harvest specific herbs. ... USING FRESH HERBS Once they are harvested, herbs ...http://www.cooksillustrated.com/images/document/howto/JA00_ISherbs.pdf
• Fresh Herbs - Recipes Using Fresh Herbs
  Fresh herbs are an easy way to add variety and flavor to seasonal produce. Find great ways to use them here.http://localfoods.about.com/od/herbs/Herbs.htm
• Cooking with Fresh Herbs - France Travel Guide,Travel to France ...
  How to Use Herbs to Create Wonderful Cuisine ... The sweet tender variety is an annual, with exception ... A little goes a long way, so add it to ...http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/Herbs/cookingwith.htm
• Fresh Herbs and more at Better Homes and Gardens
  Before using fresh herbs, rinse in cold water and let dry with a ... are a variety of ways to get the most flavor from dried herbs and spices.http://www.bhg.com/topics/food-and-recipes/fresh-herbs.htm
• Four Simple Ways to Add Herbs to Your Daily Life | Frugal Granola
  ... the body in a variety of ways. With the abundance of information on the internet, and many DIY tutorials involving herbs, using ... when using dried or fresh herbs: 1 ...http://frugalgranola.com/2012/01/four-simple-ways-to-add-herbs-to-your-daily-life/
• Healthy Fish Recipes Using Fresh Herbs - Life123
  Cooking fish the healthy way is not as hard as you might think. Fish is already good for you, and adding a few fresh herbs ... try experimenting with a variety of fresh herbs ...http://life123.com/food/main-courses/fish-recipes/healthy-fish-recipes-using-fresh-herbs.shtml
• Fresh Herbs - How To Information | eHow.com
  ... articles and videos including How to Replace Fresh Parsley With Dried, Ways of Storing Dried Herbs ... re hard to use before they spoil. But many varieties of fresh herbs…http://www.ehow.com/fresh-herbs/
• Herb Gardening - How to Dry and Store Your Fresh Garden Herbs
  Fresh garden herbs can easily be air dried, to preserve their flavor and quality. Air drying herbs is not only the easiest and least expensive way to dry fresh herbs ...http://gardening.about.com/od/vegetablepatch/a/DryingHerbs.htm