Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2006
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/vegetableherb.html

Spicing Up The Dinner Table
November 2007
Ashley Cox, Johnson's Greenhouse Grower

    As we begin to get excited about family gatherings, social events
and holiday dinners, our mouths just water for all that amazing food.
This is a great time of year to learn family traditions, the secrets to
Grandma's cooking, and have fun at the same time.

    After we pull out the recipe books, next comes the shopping list. A
few essential ingredients to put on that list are your favorite herbs.

    A nice assortment of fresh herbs can be put to good use in the
kitchen. Covering the sweet, spicy, mild and minty flavors, our Jumbo
8-pack of herbs includes Peppermint, Tricolor Sage, English Thyme,
Chives, Sweet Basil, Lavender, Rosemary and Oregano. This basic
assortment allows you to add fresh herbs to many recipes.

    - For meats and stuffing, thyme and basil are essential. Thyme works
great in any casserole, soup or wine-based sauce. Its also great to rub
on roasts or birds; as well as in corn, onion and tomato dishes.

    - With that sweet, spicy aroma and flavor, basil serves as a great
additive to pizza, pasta, breads and meats.

    - In the allium family, chives are a milder version of garlic and
onion to flavor your favorite soup, mashed potato or cheeseball recipe.

    - Oregano is famous for Italian dishes such as pasta, chicken,
pizza, bread and lasagna. Other good recipes for oregano are Greek or
Mexican dishes.

    - Serving as a natural salt substitute is sage. It also adds great
flavor to cheeses, meats and stuffing.

    - To spice up the dessert bar, keep rosemary, peppermint and
lavender on hand. Placing rosemary sprigs in the oven when baking puts
off a very nice aroma. Rosemary can be used in honey, breads, crackers
and cookies. It is also great to flavor syrups and cr?me sauces.

    - As a hybrid of water mint and spearmint, peppermint can be
beneficial in ways other than cooking. The oil can be used to relieve
ailments such as cramps, muscle spasms and sprains. Dropping a couple of
leaves in your cup of hot chocolate or tea can help these ailments.

    - Lavender spices up all that great stuff--the cookies, cinnamon
rolls, shortbreads, cheesecakes and jellies. Of course, there are
numerous options and ideas for all of these herbs.

Herbal Care 101
    Cooking with herbs isn't the best part--it's watching them grow. Be
sure to enjoy your plants in a sunny part of the kitchen and keep them
watered often.

    When it comes time to remove the sprigs, some plants can be bruised
easily and are best harvested by pinching or cutting them with scissors.
Since the flavor and aroma of herbs declines quickly after picking, be
prepared to use them immediately. If you must store them for a few
hours, keep them in the refrigerator in a perforated plastic bag. When
you are ready to use them, wash the herbs gently under cool water and
pat dry with paper towels.

    Make herbs your friends, as they all have their own personalities.
Give them haircuts and don't be afraid to use them in any recipe. Most
importantly, have fun with your new friends!