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Frugal Cooking with Herbs
By Cyndi Roberts
Herbs are fun to grow and easy to use. Herbs can be a frugal
cook's best friend because they can enhance even the simplest fare making it
seem grand! Herbs are easy to grow--you can even grow them on your kitchen
windowsill.
The addition of herbs can change completely the flavor of
foods-from homemade breads to soups, stews and vegetables. And they can add
variety and excitement to your diet.
A beginner should use herbs with care, adding a little at a time
and adjusting to your own taste. Each herb has its own individual flavor and
certain herbs also have well-known associations with particular foods. Basil is
often paired with tomatoes, rosemary with lamb, chives with cream cheese and
cottage cheese.
Fresh herbs are wonderful as garnishes. Herb vinegars can be
used in salad dressings, soups and marinades. You can also add fresh herbs to
mayonnaise or butter for a different flavor.
Fresh herbs will keep in the refrigerator for several days. A
good way to freeze herbs such as basil, oregano, and dill is to chop, place in
ice cube trays, cover with water and freeze. Then just add to stews and sauces
when needed.
Some easy herbs to grow are lemon balm, rosemary, oregano, dill,
basil, parsley, peppermint, lavender, sage. Of course, you can buy herbs to cook
with at the supermarket, also.
Here are some simple recipes to get you started using herbs in
your cooking.
Lemon Chive Dressing
1 clove garlic
dash of salt
Rind of 1
lemon, finely grated
and the juice
1 1/2 teaspoons mustard
4
tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped chives
Put the garlic and salt in a bowl and crush together. Add lemon
rind, juice and mustard, stirring until smooth. Slowly whisk in the oil. Fold in
chives and season with black pepper, if desired.
This is a good dressing to pour over warm, cooked new potatoes.
Add finely chopped green onions.
Mint Iced Tea
Wash 8 sprigs of fresh mint, 12 inches long (any mint,
spearmint, peppermint, applemint will do). Place in blender with 4 cups water
and liquefy. Let it set for about 1/2 hour and strain.
Herb Butter
1/2 cup
butter
4
tablespoons fresh herbs or 2 teaspoons of dried herbs
Soften the butter to room temperature. Finely chop the fresh
herbs. Blend herbs and butter well. Store in fridge.
Use to season vegetables, as a spread on bread, biscuits or
baked potatoes. Anywhere you normally use butter.
Here's something different: not really cooking, but a recipe
that you might find fun!
Basil-Lemon Facial Mask
Pulverize a handful of fresh basil leaves. Peel 1/2 of an
avocado and mash. Add avocado to basil in blender, along with 1 teaspoon lemon
juice and 1 teaspoon honey. Mix until smooth.
Apply to clean face and leave as long as desired. Rinse off with
lukewarm water.
In short, you don't have to be an herb specialist to learn to
enjoy using herbs.
Cyndi Roberts' website, "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" will show you ways to
save money everyday. Receive a free e-course on saving money at the
supermarket! To learn more, visit
http://www.cynroberts.com
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