How to use herbs everyday

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How to Use Herbs Every Day

 

By Gail Kavanagh

Herbs can do so much for your life and health, if you use them wisely. The right herbs, used daily, can help protect against poor health and vitamin deficiencies, as well as bringing a whole range of new flavors and exciting aromas in your life.

There are many ways to bring the daily use of herbs into your life, and because herbs are a rich source of culinary flavors and extra nutrients, let's start in the kitchen.Salads and Herbs

The simplest way to begin is to make sure you eat at least one salad dish every day. You can plan your salad dish around lunch or your evening meal, but make it a rule to experiment, because salads are a great way to introduce yourself to the wonderful world of herbs. Buy your herbs fresh, or grow your own in pots, and be adventurous. Parsley is an obvious choice, but try some chervil or tarragon as well. Investigate the delicious range of Asian herbs on the market. Start with a simple tossed salad of lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes, and toss in any herbs that take your fancy. Experiment with some unusual combinations, such as lettuce, avocado and lemon balm for sweetness, or tomatoes, basil and garlic chives. Try different finely chopped herbs in your favorite salad dressing.

You will find that using herbs brings your salads and dressing to life, and the huge variety of herbs means you can explore and find the ones you can't live without.Vegetables and Herbs

Don't stop at salads. Herbs are a wonderful way to educate your taste buds to accept more fresh foods and vegetables. Next time you steam carrots cut into julienne strips, place a layer of coriander sprigs over the top. The combination is fragrant and delicious and you will look like a gourmet cook with very little effort.

Try different combinations of herbs and vegetables and put a new twist on old recipes. Add finely chopped parsley to mashed potatoes, or sprinkle new potatoes with chopped chives. Don't just add fresh chopped mint to cooked peas - try it with runner beans, lay sprigs of mint alongside asparagus as it is cooking.

Soups and HerbsIn colder weather, there is no better way to get acquainted with herbs than by adding them to soup. Homemade soups are so comforting on cold days and all can be made more flavorful and exciting with herbs.

Again, experiment with different herbs and try to create your own favorite combinations. Try coriander or curry leaves with pumpkin soup for a spicy combination, or make tomato soup with peppery fresh basil.

Tea and HerbsChanging to herbal tea is another way to get the health benefits of herbs, but if you find some much praised concoction is the worst thing you've ever tasted, don't worry! There is such a huge variety available that you are bound to find flavors you love. If you need to relax, and chamomile tea makes you gag, try lemon verbena or mint tea. If you need more zing but hate the taste of lemon, try ginger or cinnamon. Just because a herb is trendy right now, doesn't mean you have to like it - you will find that many different herbs have the same effect, and one will be more to your liking.

Growing HerbsHerbs are so adaptable they can be fitted into anyone's lifestyle. You can grow your own for daily use, even if you think you haven't enough room.You don't need a rambling cottage garden in the country. A sunny window or balcony will do fine for cultivating potted herbs. A house in the 'burbs can have its own herb supply from the garden, no matter how small it is. Just mix herbs in with your flowers and other plants. They will thrive, and help your other plants grow better as well. For example, if you have roses, plant some garlic buds in the bed. You will have fresh garlic to harvest, and better roses!

If all you have is a patch of lawn, there's no reason why it can't be a productive herbal patch as well. Plant ground cover creeping herbs like chamomile, pennyroyal or creeping thyme and you will have gorgeous fragrance every time you step on it, as well as a handy source of herbs for your kitchen!

Replace unproductive privet with lavender or rosemary hedges and enjoy the frangrance this will bring. Add bright borders of nasturtiums, which taste great in salads, and you will have an enviable - and edible - display!

If you would rather not grow your own, you can still enjoy the fragrance of herbs like lavender by buying essential oils. Sprinkle in your bath, mix into your favorite hand cream, or sprinkle on pot pourri to keep fresh fragrance around you all day.

Stock up with dried herbs because there are so many ways to use them. Dried rosemary can be made into tea by steeping a teaspoon of the dried herb in a cup of hot water. Sip it for a calming drink or let it cool down and pour over your hair as conditioner. Make mint tea and sip to calm an upset tummy, or cool it down, take it into the bathroom and use as a refreshing mouthwash. Pour the rest down the sink with a teaspoon of bicarb soda and you will clean your drains and make them sweeter!

No matter what your lifestyle, you can bring herbs into it on a daily basis, and will soon be seeing the benefits.