Cooking with Herbs

                                  Herbs
Cooking with herbs can be both challenging and rewarding.  Knowing which ones to use takes some knowledge and practice.  Herbs are good for you. They have a lot of nutrients and flavor!  Herbs contain antioxidants that help promote good health.  I use different herbs some dried and some fresh in my cuisine.


Fresh Parsley
I love fresh parsley!  Yes you can eat it. It is not only a garnish.
Fresh parsley has vitamin A,C,B, Calcium and Iron.
Parsley is good in a lot of dishes!  I like to put fresh parsley in my Tabouli.  When I juice in my juicer I like to add a little in.  Here is a dish I like to make!


Fedio: (Mexican spaghetti)
 
Saute' and brown 1 small packet of fedio or (crushed angel hair) pasta in 1 tablespoon oil.
Add 1 minced garlic clove and 1/4 cup minced onion and saute'
Add 3 tablespoons of tomato sauce stir
 A dash of cumin and chili powder
1/2 cup chopped parsley
Cover with chicken broth
Cook uncovered until pasta is cooked.
This can be eaten as a side dish by itself or add cooked meat.  It is very versatile.  Try it sometime.


I use a mortal and pestle to make a real tasty sauce to put on any meat.  You can use this as a Asian marinate dipping sauce also.
Crush 2  fresh garlic cloves, and any 1diced chili pepper you want then add  fresh lime juice from 2 or 3 limes, a dash of soy sauce, and sea salt to taste.  You can add chopped parsley or cilantro.  I have also added minced ginger and a tablespoon of olive oil and a drop of honey. It is really good!!

Here is a similar sauce made with parsley; dip with bread, use as a salad dressing, or on top of a sandwich.
 Chopped parsley, pickled jalapenos, & onion, add fresh crushed garlic, olive oil, dash sugar, salt, & pepper and juice of 1 lemon.



Cilantro


 Cilantro Salsa 
Chop 1 or 2 Jalapenos peppers(if too hot use pickled jalapenos)
4 crushed garlic cloves
1/4 of a sweet onion
1 diced large tomato
Handful cilantro
Dash sea salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, rice vinegar, & lemon juice
Chop in food processor
Great to make in big batches. It gets eaten real fast!


Dill
Dill is good on fish and added to tartar sauce.  I also like to put dried dill in salad dressings and macaroni salad.  Potato salads are yummy with dill and with a dash of celery seed.
Homemade Tartar Sauce: Mix 2 tbs. of mayo 2 tbs. sweet pickle relish and 1/2 teaspoon dill weed.


Peppermint

 
There are 12 varieties of mint. Good for digestion.
Peppermint is a great herb! I like to drink peppermint tea with lemon and honey!


(All herb pictures are from my Moms garden in Arlington, TX.)


California Sweet Basil

A member of the mint family. Great with tomato sauces and pesto. There are 14 different varieties.



 Lemon Thyme

Thyme has10 different varieties.  Good with fish and teas.  Me and my Mom like to pinch a piece out of her garden and smell.  It smells so fresh and wonderful!!






Horseradish
This herb has to be approached with caution!  It will burn your nose!  Horseradish is a root.
Cocktail sauce: 3 tbs. ketchup 1 tbs. horseradish for dipping shrimp
Dipping sauce for egg rolls: 3 tbs. mustard, 1 tbs. horseradish, 1tsp. honey, 1 tsp. rice vinegar.  Another dipping sauce is 2 tbs. apricot or marmalade preserves, 1 tsp. rice vinegar and 1tsp. soy or teryaki sauce.


Cinnamon 


Cinnamon is very good for you!!  It is a stimulant, kills fungi and bacteria in the body.  I love to have it in my oatmeal, cooked with apples.