By: Calen Cabler
With recent events as they are, people all over the world are staying in more and trying out new hobbies. One of the biggest hobbies I’ve watched explode on social media is that of the home herb garden. If you are just starting out, the easiest way to do this is to buy a handy dandy kit with everything you need!
If you are looking for a more hands off experience or don’t have much outdoor access, I highly recommend investing in a hydroponics home kit like an Aerogarden. You can find the brand name Aerogarden (which I know from personal experience is great quality) here. If you are looking to spend a little less, you can find another great hydroponics starter kit here. However, if you are looking for a more traditional growing experience, check out a kit that comes with a variety of seeds as well as the tools you need to grow them like this one.
The question remains, once you have spent your quality quarantine time tending to your brand new herb garden–what do you do with the herbs once they are mature?
Some of the most common choices in the herb packs are basil, thyme, parsley, chives, mint, and cilantro. First off, if you have an overabundance–you can always dry your herbs for use later. This time around we are going to focus on the fresh herbs, but you can find tips and tricks on how to dry your surplus herbs here .
The easiest way to use these herbs is to add them to your dinner salad–no matter which herb(s) you use, taking your kitchen shears to the herbs and adding large pieces directly to your salad provides a surprisingly satisfying bite. Trust me, if you want to take your salads to the next level–just throw in whatever is thriving in your herb garden. Another route for all of the herbs mentioned above would be to grab your food processor and create your own pesto or chimichurri.
Basil, thyme, parsley, and chives are always a great addition to any Italian dish (spaghetti, anyone?) and cilantro is a delicious addition to tacos–mix it with a squeeze of fresh lime for a delicious bite full of zing. Parsley and chives are a great finishing touch on nearly any dish due to their more subtle flavor profiles. Lastly, mint has a stronger flavor–but is delicious with lamb as well as thrown on to your favorite dessert. I always recommend adding fresh herbs at the end of a recipe to make sure the heat doesn’t squash it’s freshness.
Food is not the only use for herbs–you can go crazy with cocktails (or mocktails). Basil, mint, and cilantro are a delicious addition to a variety of cocktails. They are an easy way to spruce up your drink, and make you feel fancy at the same time.
So what are you waiting for? Plant that herb garden to help hone your gardening skills–and enjoy the fruits of your labor with some extra kick to your next meal or cocktail!
If this strikes your fancy, here are the links again (as Amazon affiliates, we get a little $ through qualifying purchases!)
Aerogarden Hydroponics starter kit Traditional starter kitHappy harvesting!
