Do you find it challenging to create delicious meals at home? The spring and summer seasons are the best for being creative as we can easily use spices from our own garden (yes, even if you live in an apartment) by planting herbs in pots, a garden, or flower boxes. I keep mine right outside the kitchen so I can easily take my scissors and grab what I need to spice up a meal, salad, or veggies. This is all part of losing the “diet” mentality and learning to create foods that not only taste vibrant, but give us that effect when including them in daily meals.
So where is one to start when you don’t know much about cooking or gardening? A few basic herbs I always have during the spring and summer months are basil, fennel, thyme, mint (spearmint), and my all year round’ herb, Rosemary. They are all easy to grow and do well in the hot summer sun of the South. Here are some tips on how to use them…
Basil – Basil is an antioxidant and contains flavonoids, beneficial in protecting against inflammation and cell damage. It is most effective when eaten fresh, by adding to salads and sandwiches, plus my favorite; pesto! It can also be added to tomato sauce and other cooked foods by adding at the end of the cooking process.
Fennel – This herb has many uses. The seeds can be used in soups and vegetable dishes and has shown benefits in lowering cholesterol (LDL), aiding in digestion, and is a good source of fiber. The fennel bulb tastes wonderful cooked in chicken and shrimp dishes. It has a slight licorice or anisette flavor & is a good compliment to many recipes.
Thyme – Is a flavorful herb great for marinating poultry and meats and with its antibacterial properties, it has also shown benefits in boosting immune function.
Mint – This tasty herb is so easy to grow and has many vitamins (Vitamin A, C, beta-carotene, & more), plus antioxidants. My favorite is to tear the leaves and put in my green tea when steeping for summer iced tea. You can also use in salads, mint pesto, and other drinks or dishes where mint would enhance the flavor.
**Tip: You will want to plant this one in a pot as it likes to grow wild and spread everywhere! Save yourself the trouble in future years by containing it.
Rosemary – This herb thrives in sunshine and dry soil, making it so easy to grow in the south! It can spice up chicken and potato recipes among others. As for hidden health benefits; an antioxidant and also has potential to aid in some forms of brain health. Rosemary’s health benefits are just as effective when cooked.
These are just a few of the many uses and healthy benefits of spicing up your summer foods with herbs fresh from your garden. If you keep them close to your deck or sitting area, you can grab a piece of Rosemary to smell when you need a little extra focus to get your work done. Yes, it has other benefits besides spicing up your food! I love using my Rosemary essential oil for this too.
So venture out this weekend to your local nursery and look for a couple of herbs that interest you. If you already have herbs, be creative and find a new way to add them to your recipes each week. It makes bringing health into your home all the more interesting and fun!
