Start Your Herb Garden

Here are some great herbs to start your own Herb Garden with.

Basil ? Found in Italian cooking and spaghetti recipes, this herb works well with tomatoes and garlic.  Basis has a mild sweetness that enhances meats, fish, poultry and vegetables.  Basil is easy to grown and does well in heat and direct sunshine.  Try using its leaves in fresh garden salads and pasta dishes.  Some of the favorite varieties include compact bush, cinnamon, spicy globe as well as the common sweet basil.

Chives ? Has a mild onion flavor.  Chives are useful in many forms in the kitchen.  Besides using them as an enhancement to your pasta dishes, on top of baked potatoes or in salads, they can be used to spice up your recipes as a garnishment.  Chives add flavors to soups, stocks and broths.  They grow well in sunny locations, indoor pots and work well as a boarder plant in your garden.

Cilantro ? Also known as Chinese parsley or coriander, cilantro looks similar to parsley but with larger, flat leaves.  Cilantro?s distinctive, pungent aroma is a key ingredient in Mexican, Indian and Chinese cooking.  Cilantro is found in salsa, rice and with cooked chicken and fish.

Dill ? Most often dill is associated with pickles but the flavors work exceptionally well in salads and with fish.  Try using the feathery leaves to enhance tuna salad, salad dressings, cottage cheese or with yogurt for a vegetable dip.  Use it in a combination with yogurt and minced cucumber for a topping to fish.

Fennel ? Fennel is a tall and graceful plant known for its use as in fish dishes.  It resembles dill as both have feathery, light leaves grown on strong, tall stems.  Fennel can reach as height as 5 feet.  The flavor is a sweet anise and has many uses.  It?s good with new potatoes, cooked vegetables, soups and added to pickles.

Lemon Balm ? Also known as sweet balm due to its fragrance.  Branches of lemon balm used to be laid on the floors of homes and when walked on a fragrant lemon scent would fill the house.  It?s also quite tasty in vegetable salads, with chicken dishes, stuffing, desserts and drinks.  It does very well in window boxes where the aroma can be most appreciated.

Marjoram ? This herb is often confused with oregano but is distinctive in its own sweetness and flavor.  Marjoram is good with tomato based dishes but also adds flavor to fish, lamb and most bean dishes.  It?s used in marinating vegetables intended for the grill, with rice and pizza sauce.  Marjoram is compact and bushy, growing well in sunny, warm climates.

Mint ? Fresh mint adds a sweet zest to fruit salads, melons, berries and many cold beverages.  It?s also a wonderful garnish for cold dishes or desserts.  You can try an assortment of mint plants in your garden and cooking.. peppermint, spearmint or apple mint.  Place your mint plants adjacent to a patio or walkway to gain the benefit of the beautiful and sweet aromas.  But, mint is an aggressive grower so you may wish to plant it in tubs or containers.

Oregano ? This is another herb that is closely associates with Italian cooking.  Oregano is also an important part of Green and Mexican dishes.  It?s used to season baked fish, grilled chicken or vegetables such as green beans, peas, squash and mushrooms.  It?s an important ingredient in most tomato based dishes and sauces.

Parsley ? This is one of the most widely used herbs being.  Most Americans recognize this herb as garnish in restaurants but unfortunately they rarely eat it.  The flavor and health benefits of this herb deserve more credit.  Sprinkle chopped parsley over grilled meats and poultry, use in salads and with pasta sauces and soups.  Parsley is high in vitamin C and is a worthy addition to any garden and kitchen.

Rosemary ? This herb has a strong, almost overpowering fragrance and flavor.  It?s used in tuna dishes, chicken, lamb and port.  You?ll find it in many tomato dishes as it complements the tomato flavors.  It?s important that you use rosemary sparingly and shop it finely as it may be very pungent and may cover many other flavors in a dish.

Sage ? Sage is most recognized for its presence in the Thanksgiving stuffing.  It has a bold flavor and aroma that works with all types of poultry, pork and ham.  It also enhances the flavors of beans, peas, tomatoes and eggplant.

Tarragon ? Well known for its use in making flavored vinegars, tarragon is also enticing when its leaves are added to garden salads and with most vegetables, raw or cooked.  Tarragon grows best in a sunny location and is a perennial that will last for many growing seasons.  Try using entire sprigs of tarragon on your coals when grilling for additional flavor.

Thyme ? Works well with beef dishes, but also remember to add it to soups, poultry stuffing, cooked vegetables and tomato sauces.  Two sprigs of time added to a cup of hot water and drank is said to promote a restful night of sleep.  It grown well in full sun and has many delightful varieties to choose from.. silver thyme, English thyme, lemon thyme, etc.  It?s also a great herb to use when grilling, with a marinade or whole sprigs placed directly on the coals to produce aromatic smoke.