By Lynn Alley
Bring a taste of the garden to your favorite summer dishes by featuring fresh, delicious herbs in every bite. These fun variations on classic picnic recipes showcase your homegrown flavors.
• Iced Herb Gazpacho • Fresh Tarragon Potato Salad • Garlic Mayonnaise • Herb Fried Chicken • Chocolate-Peppermint Fudge
While you're preparing this delicious herb-flavored fare, keep these tips in mind:
• The flavors and aromas of fresh herbs are more complex and delicate than those of dried herbs.
• If you must store fresh herbs, do so in the refrigerator. Cold slows down deterioration.
• Herbs grown in full sun generally are more flavorful than those grown in a hothouse or in shade.
• Make sure herbs are completely dry before cutting them. Wet herbs stick to your knife and turn to mush.
• Use a very sharp knife for chopping herbs.
• Most herbs are best added only during the last 15 minutes of cooking so their aromatic oils remain intact.
Lynn Alley is a freelance food and wine writer living in San Diego, California.