We had tons of fun giving the program on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at the Botanical Gardens http://stxbot.org/. Cindy Meredith, Lois Atwood and Linda T. Collins presented the following program at the gardens. We really enjoyed it and want to thank Carol Krank with the gardens for scheduling the program!
OK because I was at my doctor's office in Houston the day before the program, I didn't get the handout copies made, BUT like I told everyone, everything will be posted on here so here goes. The recipes are at the bottom of this blog!
CULINARY HERBS 101: Growing, Harvesting and Using
Introduction: Cooking
with Herbs
The following is my outline for culinary herbs which is done in note form. Not all sentences are complete, but the information is here.
·
Herb vs. ‘erb (English vs. French) Either pronounciation is acceptable.
·
Herbs are good for you. Using herbs can be a substitute for salt and
fat because you still get the rich taste of food that you are looking for. Also herbs are high in vitamins and
minerals. Herbs can also be used to
soothe the digestive tract. In additional medicinal herbs have been used for years before we had pharmaceutical
companies.
·
Herb vs. spice:
Or soft tissue vs. woody tissue.
·
Herbs: Plants that do not
develop persistent woody tissue;
·
Spices: Derive from the
roots, barks, unopened flowers and seedpods of woody shrubs and trees; various
aromatic vegetable products.
·
SOME ARE BOTH HERBS & SPICES,
i.e. dill, fennel, cilantro, chicory,
·
Planting
Herbs (warm weather herbs vs. cool weather herbs) or annuals vs.
perennials: This means planting warm weather herbs and removing when they die
and then planting cool weather herbs, thereby having a year-round garden. Remember that down here on the coastal bend
that many of the annuals become perennials.
·
Warm weather: (1) basils (full sun), (2) mints (partial
shade), (3) scented geranium (full sun to partial shade) many varieties, (4)
lemongrass (full sun), (5) Texas Marigold Mint (full sun to partial shade) used
rather than tarragon in the south also know as Texas Taragon, (6) rosemary (full sun to partial shade)
many varieties, including prostrate which are creepers, (7) thyme (dapple sun) many
varieties with 3 groups consisting of upright shrubs 12 to 18”; creeping up to 6” and flat
creepers only 1 to 2”
·
Cool weather: (1) chervil (partial shade) anise flavor, can
be used like parsley, (2) coriander a/k/a cilantro full sun, (3) dill (full sun), (4) lavender (dapple sun) (many
varieties) cannot survive the hot, muggy summers, 3 types of lavender, English,
French, Spanish, (5) sage (full sun), (6) tarragon (partial shade) (artemisia dracunculus) French vs. Russian, say
that it must be totally dormant at least 8 weeks out of the year, with dormancy
being brought on by freezing ground.
Which herbs are
grown for culinary uses – The basic to begin with are:
- Basil Ocimum basilicum over 150 species, but the best for cooking are sweet, sometimes referred to as Genovese, although they are two different basils, along with lemon, lime, cinnamon, Thai and lettuce leaf, i.e. Valentino, Mammoth, and Napolitano. The lettuce leaf varieties can be used on a sandwich in place of lettuce. Basil is a must-have herb for every kitchen. Grows in full sun; Basil - pesto, tomato sauce, tomato soup, tomato juice, potato dishes, prawns, meat, chicken and poultry, pasta, rice, egg dishes.
- Bay Laurus nobilis make sure that you get the true
Mediterranean bay laurel and not the California bay which is known also as
Oregon myrtle and pepperwood and often substituted for bay laurel. Red bay Persea
borbonia, which grows in south
- Borage Borago officinalis (Green Salad In Place Of Cucumber); can also eat flowers; grows 1–2 feet high and 2–3 feet wide, producing gray-green, fuzzy, cucumber-flavored leaves. It prefers cool weather. Pink buds open to blue star-shaped flowers with a cone of black anthers. Its delicate flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects and are often used for garnish.
- Chili Peppers Capsicum are high in Vitamin C and a must for Tex-Mex foods; Chili - meat,
chicken and poultry, shellfish, tomato dishes, curries.
- Cardamom Eletaria cardamomum Family: Zingiberaceae Culinary:
Use the dried, ripe seed of the plant if you can get the plant to produce
seeds which is very unusual in
- German Chamomile Matricaria
recutita an annual, although considered an annual, can be taken into
the greenhouse and carried over the winter in more southern localities. It
is used in ointments and salves, and its flowers are used as a tea, which
is said to calm, sooth, and provide relief from spasms and cramps. It will
grow to 18 inches in full sun to partial shade. Like catnip, it can also
be made into a “sleep pillow.”
- Roman Chamomile Chamaemelum
nobile hardy perennial, is low growing, 6–9 inches, with tall flower
stalks. It releases a pleasing odor when walked on and makes a nice ground
cover, for which it was used historically.
- Chervil
Anthriscus
cerefoliumt is a relatively
unknown and unused low growing herb. Chervil, with its mild anise flavor,
can be used in place of parsley and in sauces and thrown into a salad for
an added surprise flavor. Chervil grows to a height of 12 to 26 inches. Chervil
prefers a cool and moist location; otherwise it rapidly goes to seed.
- Chives which are one of the allium species a/k/a onion genus (leeks, shallots, scallions, chives both onion and garlic, garlic), the hardy perennial chives, onion and garlic are often confused. Onion chives have tubular leaves and lavender flowers, and garlic chives have flat leaves and white flowers which bloom all summer. The garlic chives are stronger in flavor, so they should be used in moderation. Chives - salads, chicken, soups, cheese dishes, egg dishes, mayonnaise, vinaigrettes.
- Coriander (English) a/k/a cilantro (Spanish) Coriandrum sativum Have you ever tried to grow cilantro during the hot, humid summer months and failed? Cilantro, a cool-weather annual, is one of the many cool-weather herbs that needs to be planted in the late fall, and it should thrive through May when it will bolt. Let it do so and come fall you should be rewarded with a new bed of cilantro. Cilantro is a plant that is both a spice, the seeds, and an herb, the leaves. Coriander - Asian dishes, stir fries, curries, soups, salads, seafood. You also might try new ‘Delfino’ cilantro, an All America Selections winner that bears finely cut, feathery leaves. After two years of growing ‘Delfino’, Jensen says it was the slowest cilantro to bolt in the Johnny’s field trials and it has a mild flavor that may make converts of people who think they don’t like the taste of cilantro.
- Dill Anethum graveolens Bouquet, Fernleaf, Mammoth. Likes full sun, protect from strong winds. Plant every two weeks or so for continuous dill. Great cool-weather herb, with foliage is aromatic, feathery and fernlike plumes. Swallowtail larvae depend on it. Culinary: Dill pickles, salads, breads, baked potatoes, soups, butters, vinegars, fresh vegetables and fish and seafood. Both an herb and spice (seeds). Tea made from dill promotes sleep and reduces nervousness and aids in digestion. It is another cool-weather annual which should be planted in the fall. It, like cilantro, is both a spice and an herb. Recipes will specify dill seed when calling for the seed or dill weed or dill when calling for the leaf. OK, we all know about the wonderful flavor of dill pickles. However, dill can be used in many culinary dishes, including fish, seafood dishes, potatoes (great in potato salad or roasted potatoes) and other vegetables, breads, soups, and sauces. Also dill can be used to make herbal butters, oils and vinegars. And if you really want to perk up an omelet, put a little dill in the egg mixture. Dill tea is said to promote sleep, reduce nervousness and aid in digestion. It is said that early American settlers called dill seed "meetinghouse seed," chewing them to stave off the boredom and hunger of long sessions in church or town meetings. They also used dill to ward off witches. Huh, I wonder if it works. Dill - salads, sauces, fish, salad, sour cream, cheese and potato dishes.
- Epazote Chenopodium ambrosioides No discussion of the
herb flavors of
- Fennel Foeniculum vulgare Green,
Florence and Bronze Fennel seed can be planted in either spring or fall
or transplant nursery grown plants to the garden, because fennel is a
perennial and will not die after setting seed. The entire anise-flavored
culinary herb is used, including the seeds, bulb, stems and fronds. After
collecting the seeds, cut the plant down to the ground and new growth will
follow. One cup of fennel has only 30 calories. It is high in fiber,
vitamin C, calcium and iron. It breaks down fats and aids in digestion. It
is another herb with a history of medicinal, magical and culinary uses.
Fennel was used by the ancient Egyptians as a food and medicine, and was
considered a snake bite remedy in ancient
- Ginger Zingiber officinale: Family: Zingiberaceae (Ginger) Culinary:
Ginger has been called a spice lover’s spice. Use the roots of ginger
sweets, meats, fish, poultry, and teas. It is used extensively in Chinese
cooking. The roots of all gingers are edible and have varying
degrees of hotness. A shiny, smooth, thick-skinned hand of ginger means
fresh; peal the ginger for cooking. Ginger has been called a spice lover’s
spice. Use the roots of ginger in sweets, meats, fish, poultry, and teas.
It is used extensively in Chinese and Indian cooking. Do not freeze ginger
because it becomes stringy and tough. Store it in a container or plastic
bag and make sure it is covered with white wine, white wine vinegar, or
sherry, and it will last for a very long time. This liquid can be used in
recipes too such as salad dressings. Pickled ginger (gari) is used in
Japanese sushi and helps settle an upset stomach. Also ginger ale and
gingersnap cookies are good for an upset stomach. Ginger - cakes,
biscuits, Asian dishes.
- Kaffir Lime Citrus hystrix, c. papedia: Family: Rutaceae (Citrus) – Zones 10 - 11. All citrus trees are native
to
- Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis Herb of the Year 2007 both the lemon balm and the lime balm are in the mint family, and like mint, they are easy to grow and can become somewhat invasive. The fresh leaves give a citrus flavor when used in cooking. You can use it in any recipe to give a lemon flavor. Also it makes into a refreshing summertime iced tea. Lemon balm smells like lemon cough drops.
- Lemon Verbena Aloysia triphylla is a tender perennial that is considered the sweetest of all the lemon herbs and is one of the favorites of herb gardeners. It is used as a culinary herb in teas, salads, desserts, vegetables and seafood dishes. Also a clean, dry sprig can be dropped into a bottle of white wine, recorked and let sit for a while in the refrigerator and then serve the cold wine for a refreshing summer time drink. For aromatic relief, add an infusion of fresh or dried leaves to your bath.
- Lemon Grass Cymbopogonspp. Zone 8 - 10. Thought to be native to
India/Tropical Asia. A clumping fountain grass which grows to 3’ to 5’.
They say flowering is rare, but I know that all of mine and Pam’s flower.
It is a frost tender perennial, and it can be grown in the ground or in
containers. It likes moist, well-drained soil and likes full sun, but can
take some dapple sunlight. The blades are sharp so be careful. Culinary:
Their leaves can be used to make a tea, but it is probably too much
work to try to get enough to get any flavor. The part of the plant that is
used is the lower, almost white section of the stem. Depending on the
recipe you can cut the white part into 2” to 3” stems, or thinly slice
crosswise, or chopped, or pounded or minced. If you are using the larger
pieces, discard before serving because they are fibrous and tough. It is
used in SE Asian dishes and is great for any dish that you want to have a
lemon flavor. It is great in stir fries, rice, sauces, curries, seafood,
soups, and tea. Lemon grass is a tender perennial that can be grown as an
ornamental grass. Be careful when handling the sharp edged leaves which
can cause cuts much like a paper cut. You can run your hand up the leaves
without any cuts, but be sure not to run your hand down the leaves.
Lemongrass has a clear lemon flavor with flowery overtones. The leaves can
be used to make a tea, but it is probably too much work to try to get
enough to get flavor because the aroma fades quickly from the upper part
of the leaf. Generally, the part of the plant that is used is the lower,
light green to almost white section of the stem. Depending on the recipe
you can cut the white part into 2” to 3” stems, or thinly slice crosswise,
or chop, or pound or mince. If you are using the larger pieces, discard
before serving because they are fibrous and tough. It is used in SE Asian
dishes and is great for any dish that you want to have a lemon flavor.
- Lemon Grass, East Indian Cymbopogon flexuosus smaller form of Cymbopogon spp. with same usage and cultural practices. Better for containers because of its smaller size. Can start from seed.
- Marjoram Sweet marjoram Origanum majorana is considered the sweetest, and many think the best, of the origanums. Have you ever noticed that it is sometimes difficult to tell marjoram from oregano? That is because they are in the same genus. Any recipe that calls for oregano will often call for marjoram which has a more delicate flavor. It is used extensively in Italian and Greek cuisine in meat, soup, sauces, oils and vinegars. Sweet, mild aromatic herb used in meat dishes and with tomatoes. If left to flower, it's a great bee plant. Tea used to relieve symptoms of colds, headaches and to settle upset stomachs. Dried leaves are a fragrant ingredient in potpourri. Marjoram Sweet - meat, fish, egg dishes, cheese dishes, pizza.
- Mexican Mint Marigold a/k/a Texas Tarragon Tagetes Lucida Use it to substitute for French Tarragon which will not grow here in the south because it is too hot and humid. The mild anise flavored leaves can be chopped and added to any dish calling for French Tarragon. It is good in soups, eggs, meats, especially poultry, salads, seafood, and it makes for a great tea. And when it blooms in the fall, snip those flowers and throw them into a salad for color and flavor. Tarragon - salad dressing, egg dishes.
- Mints Mentha are generally divided into two groups, spearmint Mentha
spicata and peppermint Mentha piperita with spearmint being the
one that is the most often used. About 600 but spearmints &
peppermints; will cross pollinate; damp & shade; Apple
Mint has a very light taste and slightly fuzzy leaves. Chocolate Mint is a variation of
Peppermint with purple stems and some say a hint of chocolate flavor - use
like Peppermint. Doublemint tastes like a combination of
Peppermint and Spearmint. Orange Mint
(Mentha aquatica 'Citrata')
tastes and smells like Bergamot, so it adds great to a fine Earl Grey tea. Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) makes a great tea and
is good for flavoring ice cream. There are plain and variegated forms of Pineapple Mint, which is very similar to
Apple Mint; use the variegated form so you can tell them apart. Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is good in
tea in combination with Peppermint,
but not so great alone. It makes great jelly for lamb and a nice garnish
for desserts and mint juleps
and is popular in Middle Easterncuisine.
Mint tea, especially which made from Peppermint, is supposed to help
settle the stomach, in addition to being used as a diuretic. Also
available, but harder to find, are Candy, Corsican (hard but not impossible to grow down
here in south
- Oregano Origanum 25 species including Greek Oregano, the most commonly used oregano, along with sweet marjoram, which is sometimes called the "prince of herbs". There are over 25 species of oregano including Greek oregano. Oregano is sometimes called wild marjoram. It is used extensively in Italian, Spanish and Mexican cooking. What’s spaghetti sauce without oregano, right? But you can also use oregano in vegetables, beans, meats and soups. Remember oregano is a strong herb, so go easy when seasoning dishes with it. Oregano - cheese dishes, egg dishes, tomato sauce, pizza, meat, stuffing, bread, pasta.
- Oregano, Mexican Lippia graveolens It is a slender aromatic shrub or small tree, whose pubescent (felty) branches bear rounded to obtuse, bluntly serrated leaves. Fragrant flowers are yellowish or white with a yellow eye and occur throughout the year, especially after rains. With hot peppery leaves and beautiful tubular lavender flowers; Mexican Oregano is not a true oregano, but rather a member of the verbena family. It is often substituted for oregano in recipes as is the Cuban Oregano which is a member of the coleus family. Both the Mexican Oregano and Cuban Oregano can be substituted for oregano, but they will give a slightly different taste than true oregano.
- Oregano, Mexican Poliomintha
longiflora if you have room for just one native herb, then
Mexican oregano is your best choice. The leaves of this shrubby herb are a
somewhat spicy replacement for garden oregano. When substituting, reduce
the amount in your recipe to about two-thirds of garden oregano. Mexican
oregano likes full sun but will also grow in partial shade. This graceful
perennial provides lovely color through summer and into fall with tubular
white, pink and lavender flowers. It generally reaches 3 feet. In my shade
garden, however, it is prostrate, growing no higher than about 10 inches.
Although native to the drier regions of
- Cuban Oregano Plectranthus
amboinicus Cuban Oregano is a very tender perennial and a
member of the same family as Coleus, and as such is not a true oregano. It
does share the same general taste as the oreganos, and can be used as a
substitute, though this is more common in
- Parsley Petroselinum crispum curly-leaf French and flat-leaf Italian Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum, lots of vitamin A, B, C; swallowtail butterflies like this plus dill and fennel; freshens breath and helps tone down the garlic odor; flat-leaf is considered to be the more flavorful variety. OK, we all know about that little piece of parsley that restaurants place on your plates. Do you know that it is more than a garnish? When eaten after a meal, it is actually there to help“freshen” the breath and help to tone down garlic odor. Both the curly-leaf and the flat-leaf are easy to grow and attractive in the garden. These are cool-weather herbs that need to be planted in either early spring or late fall. Add parsley just before serving to preserve vitamins A, B and C and minerals. Swallowtail butterflies like parsley along with dill and fennel. Parsley - pesto, egg dishes, pasta, rice dishes, salads, butter, sauces, seafood, vegetable dishes.
- Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis upright/prostrate
and sun/shade; Native to the Mediterranean region and gets its name from ros (dew) and marinus (sea). In
- Sage Salvia officinalis a/k/a garden sage; over 900 species of salvias, Known most often simply as “sage,” S. officinalis comes in several varieties including tricolor, Berggarten, purple, golden and many others that describe difference in leaf color and shape. Slight difference in taste may occur from variety to variety, but they can be used interchangeably in recipes. You may also find that one variety does better in your garden than another, so experiment with several varieties. Sage - stuffings, tomato dishes, cheese dishes.
- Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor, like chervil, is a relatively unknown and unused herb. It is best grown as a cool-weather, short-lived perennial, so expect to replace it from time to time. The wonderful cucumber flavor is great in salads, vinegars, butters, vegetables, beans, mushrooms and other dishes. And it is considered to be a diuretic. Salad Burnet is a charming evergreen plant whose 12 inch fountains of scalloped foliage form a wonderful flower bed edging. Salad burnet will grow in a sunny site, but seems to do best when shaded in the afternoon. A prime location would be under a deciduous tree so that it can soak up winter’s rays, but not suffer a summer sunburn. Grown easily from seed, salad burnet has interesting “button-like” flower heads in the summer, but the main attraction is the cucumber scented foliage. The leaves make a delightful herbal vinegar to be used on fish and in salad dressings.
- Thyme Thymus vulgarisabout 400 varieties; will cross pollinate; give dapple sunlight; Thyme can be used in the same recipes that include oregano and marjoram. Savory herb for flavoring meat, eggs, cheese dishes and soups. Robust grower. Spreads nicely to form a tight clump. Good drainage is essential, as this herb will easily "drown" if roots are allowed to say too wet. Plant in raised bed if necessary. Good for container planting. Lemon thyme is good in savory dishes especially fish, stuffings and vegetables. Thyme - chowders, bread, chicken and poultry, soups, stock, stews, stuffings, butter, cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar.
- Savory,
Winter Satureja
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Quinoa Salad with Mint,
Almonds and Cranberries
-
2 cups chicken broth
-
1 cup quinoa, uncooked
-
3 tablespoons olive oil
-
1/2 cup coarsely chopped mint leaves
-
/2 cup dry-roasted almonds, unsalted or any
nut you want to use
-
1/2 cup dried cranberries
-
1 cup coarsely chopped kale or any other of your
favorite greens
-
1/2 cup sliced carrots
-
1/2 cup sliced celery
-
1 scallion, thinly sliced
-
18grape tomatoes, halved
-
1 lemon, juiced
-
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
- Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Add quinoa, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, about 13 minutes. Stir in olive oil; fluff quinoa with a fork. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Stir mint, almonds, dried cranberries, kale, carrots, celery, scallion, grape tomatoes, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Season to taste with salt and ground black pepper.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
North African
Spiced Carrots
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
3 cups sliced carrots
1 cup water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Cooking Directions:
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add
garlic, paprika, cumin and coriander; cook, stirring, until fragrant but not browned,
about 20 seconds. Add carrots, water, lemon juice and salt; bring to a simmer.
Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until almost tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Uncover
and simmer, stirring often, until the carrots are just tender and the liquid is
syrupy, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in parsley. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Yield: 6 servings
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Chicken & Lemon Grass Rice Salad
Serves: about12
servings
Ingredients
- *1 package sugar snap peas
- *1 package fresh snow peas
- 1 (16-ounce) package lemon grass rice, cooked
- 1 cup water chestnuts, drained and chopped
- 3 cups diced cooked chicken (HEB rotisserie chicken is good)
- 6 green onions, chopped
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
- Add finely chopped jalapeño to the dish.
- Add freshly chopped cilantro right before serving
- ***1 (2-ounce) package slivered almonds, toasted (1/2 cup)
Directions
Cook sugar snap peas according
to package directions; drain well. In a large bowl, combine sugar
snap peas, orzo, water chestnuts, chicken, green onion, and red bell pepper. **Dressing Recipe: In a small bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, soy sauce, and hoisin sauce. Pour over orzo mixture, tossing gently to coat. Stir in toasted almonds. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
NOTE: A few options.
- *Used both fresh sugar snap peas and fresh snow
peas; can add celery, carrots, asparagus, edamame, etc.
- Fresh grated ginger and red pepper flakes
- Added spicy stir fry sauce along with the hoisin
sauce in equal amounts.
- **I doubled the dressing recipe and added 1
tablespoon each of sesame oil and/or chili oil. Chili oil will give it more heat! OR DON'T ADD ANY DRESSING AND ENJOY THE FLAVOR OF THE LEMON GRASS!
- ***Substituted unsalted peanuts for the almonds.
Lemon Grass Rice
Cook rice according to
directions, but add 2 stalks of lemon grass, only use the white portion towards
the bottom. Just pound it to release the
flavors (can use a meat pounder or a rolling pen) and put it in for cooking,
remove before serving.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE HERB COTTAGE
Cindy Meredith, prop.
442 CR 233
Hallettsville, TX 77964
phone & fax: 979/562-2153
phone & fax: 979/562-2153
e-mail: cindy@theherbcottage.com
LEMON BALM QUICK BREAD
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
Grated rind of one lemon
3/4 cup sugar
8 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup lemon balm leaves, finely chopped
Directions:
Grate the lemon peel and remove the juice from the lemon. Reserve the juice for the glaze. Cream butter, sugar, and finely chopped leaves. Add eggs and beat well to get a smooth consistency. Add remaining ingredients (flour through lemon rind). Pour into one large or four miniature greased loaf pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes if using a large pan or 25-30 minutes if using miniature pans.
Before removing from the pans, use a toothpick to prick holes in the crust. Pour Lemon Balm Glaze over the top while the loaves are still warm. Allow to cool completely before removing from the pan. Loaves can be frozen for later use.
LEMON BALM GLAZE
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons finely chopped lemon balm leaves
Juice from one fresh lemon (about 4 tablespoons)
~~TIP:
To avoid having bits of chopped herbs in the bread, steep the chopped leaves in the liquid for a half an hour or so. If you heat the liquid first, then add the herbs, the flavor develops more fully. This liquid can then be stored in the refrigerator for later use, or used right away in the recipe.
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We hope you will try these recipes which are great for summer! Also be sure to check out our blog for lots of recipes! Enjoy!
http://rockportherbies.blogspot.com/2012/08/summer-time-recipes.html
Herbie a/k/a Linda
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