Fresh herbs can make all the difference in your cooking…and if you love to wow your friends with spectacular meals, make sure you have these herbs growing in your kitchen garden.
1. Basil
Sweet basil is one of the most popular kitchen herbs in the world. Dried or fresh, basil is great for cooking or for creating a refreshing feeling anywhere in your home. When eaten, basil provides us healthy doses of vitamins A, K, and C, as well as magnesium, iron, potassium, and calcium.
2. Chives
Dried or fresh chives make excellent additions to fish, soups, potatoes, and vegetable dishes. Dice up immature, unopened flower buds for a light onion-like flavor that is slightly more pungent than chopped chive leaves, but less overpowering than onions themselves.
3. Lavender
Lavender is especially tasty when used in baking. Plus it is one of the most useful and versatile herbal remedies, especially when its natural oils are distilled from the plant. Having some outside can’t hurt either…it is also a natural deterrent for mosquitoes and other garden pests.
4. Oregano
One of the most versatile herbs, oregano is excellent in Italian and Greek recipes. It also makes a tasty seasoning for egg dishes, meats, poultry, legumes, and breads.
5. Rosemary
A spring/summer BBQ chef’s favorite, rosemary is ideal when added to fish, lamb, steak and chicken…basically everything! Even toss some fresh rosemary in beans and sautéed mushrooms. Oh and did you know the aroma of rosemary can relieve stress and quiet the mind?