Herb Gardening is Easy and Delicious

I love to cook (almost as much as I love to garden) and summer is by far my favorite time of year to do so. I think one of the best parts of summer cooking is using fresh herbs. It’s probably the simplest way to add a punch of flavor in my fresh summer dishes. 

All gardeners have their favorite herbs … I certainly do. Each year I like to try a few new ones as well. The beauty of herb gardening is the simplicity of it. 

Everyone has space for an herb garden … they work great on a window sill, deck or in a planter somewhere. You can also plant your herbs in the ground.

Here are a few of my favorite herbs:

Rosemary—This aromatic evergreen shrub has needle like leaves and blue flowers.  It smells great and is one of my favorites to use on grilled chicken.

Mint—There are quite a few varieties of the mint herb. My favorite this year is the Mojito Mint plant! It’s a fun way to jazz up your summer cocktail. 

Basil—This is an annual herb and one of my very favorites … I grow a LOT of basil. It adds a terrific flavor to a tomato dish (I’ll give you a good recipe below).      

Dill—This is an annual with a hollow stem and yellow flowers. Dill is great in sauces and with grilled fish. 

Chives—These long leaves can be chopped to add some terrific flavor to any potato dish, appetizer or added to a steak rub. 

I hope you will take some time to give an herb garden a try this summer.  Trust me, you (and everyone you cook for) will taste the difference!

Fresh Tomato Brochette

 Roma tomatoes—8

Balsamic Vinegar—4 Tablespoons

EVOO—2 Tablespoons

Basil—2 Tablespoons

Garlic—1 Tablespoon

Red Onion—1 Tablespoon

Sugar—1 Teaspoon

Parmesan Cheese—Fresh grated, use as desired

Mix above ingredients and serve on fresh bread that has been dipped in EVOO and toasted on a grill. Enjoy!