Welcome to my herb garden

Fresh herbs are probably the best seasonings you can cook with. They make any dish pop with their vibrant colors and bold flavors. They also flavor a dish without adding any extra calories. I am fortunate to have an herb garden on the side of my house. I don't have much of a green thumb but I find growing herbs is not as difficult as other foods and plants. Usually I plant my potted herbs into the ground, make sure they are watered, and mother nature does the rest. Below I've shared some of my favorite herbs to grow and to work with.

Mint: These textured tough leaves work great in sweet and savory meals. Mint is a very easy herb to grow and it multiplies in size naturally. Once you plant mint it will begin to spread and spread, so long as it's roots have the room. Mint is fabulous crushed into teas and flavored water. Crushing the leaves releases all their great aromas. On the savory side, chopped mint is used in a lot of Mediterranean dishes and sauces. It provides a cool refreshing flavor.

Basil: These soft round leaves go great in anything Italian. In a previous post I shredded it for my tomato sauce. Basil taste delicious raw too, most famously used as the main ingredient in traditional Pesto. I love to take fresh basil leaves and place them between layers of tomato and mozzarella to make a Caprese salad. I recently tried basil and lemon water and loved that too.

Rosemary: These sprigs are delicious when added to roasted red potatoes and lamb. I love to place a sprig of rosemary into a glass jar of oil and let it sit for several days, it will really infuse into the oil resulting in a delicious dipping sauce for bread.

Parsley: This flat or curly leafy green goes great with just about everything. I love to chop fresh parsley and sprinkle it on top of finished dishes like chicken Marsala or Francaise. Parsley goes great on top of roasted chicken and potatoes too. It can be used as a beautiful garnish on dinner plates and it even cleanses your palate after you finish your meal.

If you don't have the luxury of growing these herbs at home you can always find them in the produce aisle at the food store. If you buy them potted they will last 7-10 days as long as you water them. If that's not your style, you can still find fresh herbs but this time in little plastic containers, usually just enough for one meal. You will really notice a difference in your meals when you go fresh!