Sample Recipes 

Pesto

• 2 cups fresh Basil leaves

• ½ cup fresh Parmesan (grated)

• ½ cup virgin olive oil

• 1/3 cup pine nuts

• 3 cloves garlic

• salt and pepper to taste

Add basil and pine nuts to processor and pulse.  Add the garlic and pulse once again.  Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while blending.  Add the Parmesan cheese and blend until smooth.  Add the salt and pepper to taste.  Serve over hot pasta. 

It is easiest to prepare this in a food processor.  You can use a regular blender, however you may need to process longer.

 

Cajun Spice

• 1/4 pound kosher salt

• 1/2 cup chili powder

• 1/2 cup paprika

• 2 Tbsp onion powder

• 1/3 tsp cumin

• 3/4 tsp cayenne pepper

• 1-1/2 Tbsp dried thyme

• 2 Tbsp coarsely ground black pepper

• 2 Tbsp dried basil

• 2 Tbsp dried oregano

• 2 Tbsp ground coriander

• 1/2 tsp white pepper

Blend all the ingredients together.  Store in an air tight jar or container. This is the recipe you would use to blacken fish or other meats.

Perfect Salt Substitute

• 1 Tbsp ground cayenne pepper

• 1 Tbsp garlic powder

• 1 Tbsp onion powder

• 1 tsp dried basil

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• 1 tsp dried thyme

• 1 tsp dried parsley flakes

• 1 tsp dried savory

• 1 tsp ground mace

• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

• 1 tsp dried sage

• 1 tsp dried marjoram

• 1 tsp ground dried grated lemon peel

Mix until well blended.  Use as you would any seasoning salt.

 

Resources

I have included some resources on the Internet for further research and reading.  I hope you will enjoy the simple pleasure growing herbs can give you. 

• The Herb Society of America

• American Spice Trade Association

• Henriette's Herbal Homepage

• American Herb Association

• Cooking With Herbs

• Culinary Herbs

These websites offer more insight to the wonderful world of herbs and their uses.  You can find recipes, pictures, and even some of the folk lore associated with herbs.  This is by no means the absolute authoritative list of the use of herbs.  There are thousands of books available at the local library on herbs, culinary plants, and herb gardening. 

I suggest you research more about the benefits of growing your own herbs in your back yard.  I can not express enough the joy and satisfaction you will get when you can walk out and smell the aroma these wonderful plants offer.  The sense of relaxation and peace can become quite addictive when you start growing and using your herbs.

May all your herbal growing and cooking endeavours be successful.

 

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