Buy Some Fresh Herbs!

There is nothing like taking in the aroma of fresh herbs in the middle of cold winter to lift your winter blues!  There is simply something about having them in the house that makes me feel reignited in the kitchen, and in life in general!

The herbs outside are in dormant mode.  The basil is long gone, except in frozen pats of butter in the freezer.  My rosemary has turned from new, fresh, tender stalks to dark, forest green spires of old growth.  Cold cold cold!!!

The tender, aromatic, flavorful leaves take me right to a warm sunny day!  They spark ideas for recipes as a smile pours across my bright eyed face, "I've gotta go, get into the kitchen", I think to myself.  Making Italian today, starting with my sauce and I honestly don't know what direction this will take!  Lasagna, spaghetti, bowties??  I think I'll have a small sandwich before my workout while the sauce is cooking!  * Some fresh basil mayo included!!!  Enjoy everybody!

New Herb Blog, That I just Love!

This came from an "Herb-Info" Blog that I find super informative.  I really love the way she things.  Frugally and in sync and flow with our natural world.

She has such topics as "How to Make Your Own Almond/Seed Milks", and "20 uses for Eggshells" also "How to save your own Heirloom Tomato Seeds"  Cool Stuff!!  check it out ... link is below the picture!

By the way I am definitely starting my basil seeds in these babies.  The calcium is great for a plants root growth and you and just put them straight in the pot or ground!  It doesn't get any better than that!  Thanks for visiting, Happy Holidays and ENJOY!  





http://www.herbs-info.com/blog/how-to-plant-seeds-using-eggshells/

Summer Herbs 2... Preserving in oil

Here are my little basil babies coming up in their Chobani cups.  So cute!  So back to the herbs...
Today is a continuation of yesterday's preserving herbs.  It is the time of year when I begin to plant and get excited about using fresh herbs for my cooking again and in general just being able to get outside in the warm spring air!  I get excited about these herb plantings because the herbs that I dried last year and used over the winter have a more beautiful, vibrant burst of flavor that store bought dried herbs.  It amazes me how much different my own home made dried herbs taste compared to expense store bought!  I love it.  I am all about saving some dough and all of these different ways of preserving your harvest accomplish just that! 

Herbs are basically weeds and are really easy to grow give it a try!!
Freezing Herbs in Oil
4 cups herbs- loose volume and approximate
¼ cup vegetable oil (olive oil, cold-pressed nut oil, sesame or safflower oil…)  Olive Oil being
  my preferred oil for this.  I am usually cooking Italian with these herbs.

1.  Finely chop whichever herbs you have chosen. 
2.  Place them in a small bowl, add in the oil and mix well.  (Some herbs need more oil than others.)
3.  Put in ice cube tray for freezing.
4.  After 24 hours pop out of the ice cube tray & put in freezer bags labeled with Date and type of herb.
Which herbs do well in oil for cooking applications?
Basil
Celery leaves ~ *** for stocks and soups - you can change out oil and use chicken stock also!
Cilantro
Mints
Oregano
Marjoram
Parsley
Rose petals
Tarragon
******These herbs will stay good in the freezer bags for around 4 months.
Tomorrow, look for herbs preserved in oil and kept in mason jars...  INFUSED OILS...!  So excited : )

Summer Herbs

So it's the first day of Spring!  I don't know about you guys, but I've already started my basil plants indoors, in Chobani Yogurt cups no doubt ( I saw this in a magazine).  ...I'm so excited!!...    The picture at the right has fresh herbs frozen in olive oil, in ice cube trays.  This is one of many ways to preserve your fresh herb harvest!     Fresh herbs are so much more flavorful than dried herbs in most cases.  Some oily herbs such as Rosemary actually get more potent with drying however!  With a little research you can find which method works best for which herb

SO... HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BOUGHT PARSLEY or CILANTRO FOR A RECIPE, NOT USED IT ALL AND LET THE REST OF THE BUNCH GO BAD IN THE FRIDGE?  This is one of my big mistakes...see preserving in water below to save these herbs for another recipe and SAVE your cash $$.

http://www.organicgardening.com ~ great resource for gardening!

Herbs like Thyme, Basil and oregano, are better fresh.  These three herbs are staples in my home.  I use them almost on a daily basis!  So preserving my harvest is especially important for time sake and in order to save money. 

For instance I bought basil seeds for $1.79 for a packet.  I have my first round of basil coming up now, I planted them in six Chobani Yogurt cups about a week ago.  I'll use these fresh and save some in butter or olive oil.  The sprouts are coming up now.

I can also transfer these to larger pots or into the garden.

Then I will replant another round of seeds in cups at June 1st or so. That way I will have them throughout the season and can preserve some via freezing for the winter months and not have to buy them.  Very economical considering the price of these fresh herbs and dried herbs for that matter.

Preserving herbs is SUPER EASY!!

You can freeze in many mediums, WATER, BUTTER, OLIVE OIL, CANOLA OIL.

WATER METHOD...

1.  Rinse and Discard Stems of herbs

2.  Finely Chop with knife

3.  TIGHTLY Pack into ice cube trays

4.  Carefully and slowly put water into cube trays with herbs. 

5.  Freeze for 24 hours.

6.  Pop out of cube trays and store in freezer baggie w/date on the label.

These methods keep herbs well for up to 6 months.

****GARLIC LOVERS.. oh you know I love me some garlic!!  You can store chopped garlic in oil as well.