Does it take a culinary genius to make a lunch or dinner stand out, taste vibrant and flavourful? It most certainly does not! An often overlooked trick to good cooking is a very simple one.
Fresh herbs.
Dried herbs always work in a pinch, but fresh ones bring a delicate punch to any dish.
It doesn't always seem convenient to run out to the grocery store to buy those fresh herbs.
Or sometimes the large grocery store quantities are unwieldy-a small portion goes into the meal while the remainder of the bunch rots inside the refrigerator.
There is one easy way to ensure a good supply of fresh herbs is always available in your kitchen.
Grow your own! With minimal effort, you can "green up" your kitchen and improve your cooking.
All it takes is a little planning and a small amount of maintenance to create a beautiful, year-round indoor herb garden.
Here's what you can do: 1) Pick out the top five or ten herbs you use the most.
Some suggestions are: parsley,cilantro,basil, rosemary, oregano, tarragon, marjoram, and thyme.
2) Gather a few planters.
Use your imagination-these can be actual flower pots, recycled yoghurt containers,milk cartons, etc.
Decorate them to your heart's content.
This is an activity that can be enjoyed by the entire family.
This can even become a fun game; compete to see who can re-use the most recyled items.
Just be sure to carefully punch some holes in the bottom for drainage.
Tip:Larger planter boxes require less watering.
You can plant most herbs together, just be sure to leave enough space for the plants to grow.
3) Buy some quality organic soil from your local store or farmer.
4) Buy seed packets with the herbs of your choice.
5) Place the pots in a warm, sunny spot in your kitchen (windowsills work well for this).
Place some rocks or shells in the bottom of the pot to provide proper drainage.
Add the soil, plant the seeds, water regularly, and watch them grow! 6) Harvest the herbs only as needed for your delicious meals.
Tip: Just pick the amount you need from the sides or tops of the plants; they will keep growing for a long time this way.
As your organic indoor herb garden thrives, experiment with trying out new herbs and recipes.
The list of possibilities is virtually endless.
Voila! Happy planting and cooking!
Fresh herbs.
Dried herbs always work in a pinch, but fresh ones bring a delicate punch to any dish.
It doesn't always seem convenient to run out to the grocery store to buy those fresh herbs.
Or sometimes the large grocery store quantities are unwieldy-a small portion goes into the meal while the remainder of the bunch rots inside the refrigerator.
There is one easy way to ensure a good supply of fresh herbs is always available in your kitchen.
Grow your own! With minimal effort, you can "green up" your kitchen and improve your cooking.
All it takes is a little planning and a small amount of maintenance to create a beautiful, year-round indoor herb garden.
Here's what you can do: 1) Pick out the top five or ten herbs you use the most.
Some suggestions are: parsley,cilantro,basil, rosemary, oregano, tarragon, marjoram, and thyme.
2) Gather a few planters.
Use your imagination-these can be actual flower pots, recycled yoghurt containers,milk cartons, etc.
Decorate them to your heart's content.
This is an activity that can be enjoyed by the entire family.
This can even become a fun game; compete to see who can re-use the most recyled items.
Just be sure to carefully punch some holes in the bottom for drainage.
Tip:Larger planter boxes require less watering.
You can plant most herbs together, just be sure to leave enough space for the plants to grow.
3) Buy some quality organic soil from your local store or farmer.
4) Buy seed packets with the herbs of your choice.
5) Place the pots in a warm, sunny spot in your kitchen (windowsills work well for this).
Place some rocks or shells in the bottom of the pot to provide proper drainage.
Add the soil, plant the seeds, water regularly, and watch them grow! 6) Harvest the herbs only as needed for your delicious meals.
Tip: Just pick the amount you need from the sides or tops of the plants; they will keep growing for a long time this way.
As your organic indoor herb garden thrives, experiment with trying out new herbs and recipes.
The list of possibilities is virtually endless.
Voila! Happy planting and cooking!
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