Herbs

So many people plant herb gardens, and then never use the fresh herbs they grow. Let's change that, starting today! First off, for those herbs you grow yourself, get rid of all those little bottles of herbs you've been using all these years. Those bottles are a pale imitation of what you will get from the fresh leaves. Instead, before you begin, take your scissors and a container, and go snip off a little of whatever you're growing: basil, mint, thyme, fennel, lovage, parsley, sorrel, winter savory, borage, lemon balm, or whatever you have. Now smell and taste each of those herbs and use your taste imagination: does it smell and taste spicy, sweet, savory? By going back to our techniques already discussed, how could you use these herbs?

Parsley, Sage, Basil, Dill, Fennel, Tarragon, Rosemary, Chives, Thyme Oregano, Bay, Petunia Lynne Brotchie

Here are some ideas if you are stuck:

• Make hot or iced tea with herbs.
• Make a sorbet from your herbs.
• Use fresh herb leaves in a salad.
• Take that hot tea you made from the herb and use it in place of stock or broth.
• Use herbs in your poaching water.
• Add fresh herbs to your dry rub or wet rub.
• Make a layer of herbs on your grill, and put your grilled items on top of them.