Herbs can do much more than add much needed spice to the foods
you cook. Herbs also have important health benefits, and many herbs
have been shown to have remarkable healing properties.
Growing your own herbs
Fortunately, herbs are very easy to grow in your own home
herb garden. They are also easy and quite inexpensive to buy,
either fresh or in their dried varieties. When buying herbs,
whether they are dried or fresh, however, it is important to
exercise caution and to buy only the freshest herbs, or those
dried herbs made by quality, reputable companies.
The best choice for many people, however, is to grow your own
herbs in an herb garden. Unlike many other forms of gardening,
an herb garden takes up almost no space. Most herb gardens can
be grown using the smallest flower pots set in a sunny windowsill.
There are every kits which allow the cook to grow a variety of
herbs directly from seed, all in one handy container.
There are as many ways to use herbs in cooking and in healing
as there are herbs. For instance, meats, stews and pasta dishes
can all be enhanced with basil, garlic, oregano and rosemary. Foods
that are naturally sweet can be further enhanced through the addition
of herbs like cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, while extra heat can
be added to many foods by adding a dash of white, black or red
pepper.
Herbs and dieting
Dieters often appreciate the ability of herbs to add flavor
and variety to food without adding extra calories. When adding
fresh herbs to a recipe, the best technique is to gently crush
the herbs in your hand in order to fully release their flavor.
It is best to add the herbs near the end of the cooking process
to preserve their flavor and nutritional value. A few of the
most commonly grown herbs for the home garden are:
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Sweet basil (ocimum
basilicum), in both the dark opal and the green variety
are quite easy to grow from seed, and they generally
germinate at 7 to 10 days. Basil can grow to a height
of 18 inches, and it provides excellent flavor to tomato
paste, pastas, soups and stews. |
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Chives (allium scboenoprasum)
is a perennial plant which is popular in both herb gardens
and more traditional garden patches. These tiny plants
resemble spears of grass when they first sprout, but
they can grow to a height of 12 inches. Chives are great
in salads, sauces and all kinds of egg dishes. |
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Dill (anethum graveolens)
is another easily grown herb, and it makes an excellent
flavoring for meats. Dill is also excellent for use in
pickling. |
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Lavender (lavandula)
is easy to grow as well, and it provides a fresh scent
indoors and out. While not traditionally eaten, lavender
is important in aromatherapy, and the dried leaves of
the plant make excellent sachets for sprucing up closets. |
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Mint (menthe spicat) is also
quite easy to grow and it can easily be grown indoors
as part of an herb garden. Mint is an excellent accompaniment
to fruit drinks and lemonade, and we all know how well
mint jelly goes with lamb dishes. |
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Sage (saivia officinalis)
is another perennial plant that is grown indoors and
out. This popular herb is excellent for use in chicken,
turkey and pork, and it is often used for flavoring sausage
as well.
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