Preserving and Using Herbs: Presentation and Links (Yarmouth Garden Club)
Including links to some of my all-time favourite recipes!
I was delighted to be asked to speak to the Yarmouth Garden Club about preserving and using herbs, and had way too much fun putting my presentation together. I love herbs, both broadly and specifically. I am captivated by the scents, tastes, historical uses, medicinal and folklore uses of herbs. I am not an herbalist and have no formal training; I am just ridiculously enthusiastic and have been growing and using herbs for 25 years. A chance to talk about my favourite things for an hour with fellow gardeners? Yes, please!
I’ve attached a copy of the full presentation at the end of this post, and below, I’ve copied the links to recipes, tutorials, and information from the last few slides for easy access. Many of my all-time favourite recipes are included; I’ve put an asterisk by the ones I have made countless times and still love - the 10/10 home-run ones that I can’t imagine life without. For many, I include the main herb used in parentheses. Enjoy!
Recipes
* Fabulous Fettuccine recipe (tarragon): My husband Adam made this for me for our first Valentine’s together and has made it for me every year since. I cannot get enough! https://www.cooks.com/recipe/4v3r899q/fabulous-fettuccine.html
* Chicken with Tarragon and Leeks: A great slow cooker recipe that is cozy and comforting. https://twentytwopleasant.blogspot.com/2009/04/recipe-week-13-slow-cooker-chicken-with_07.html
* Love and Lemons Chickpea Salad (dill): The perfect summer salad, in my opinion - start with a can of chickpeas and go from there! https://www.loveandlemons.com/chickpea-salad/#wprm-recipe-container-70501
* Chef Michael Smith: Thai Coconut Curry Soup (cilantro): I ADORE this soup - shrimp is my favourite protein to add. https://chefmichaelsmith.com/recipe/thai-coconut-curry-soup/
* Garlic Scape Pesto: I make this every year with our garlic scapes; we usually toss it with pasta. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/199868/garlic-scape-pesto/
* Cranberry Sage Chutney: like cranberry sauce, on steroids. Excellent with all of the additions. https://food52.com/recipes/78152-cranberry-ginger-sage-chutney
Fresh Herb Italian Dressing: https://www.artandthekitchen.com/fresh-herb-italian-dressing/
Compound Herb Butters: So nice for melting on steak or serving on biscuits. https://www.loveandlemons.com/herb-compound-butter/#wprm-recipe-container-59175
Fire Cider: This will knock your socks off. Possibly literally. (rosemary, thyme, garlic): https://goodfoodbaddie.com/fire-cider-recipe/#recipe
Herb Salts: Makes a great gift for a friend who likes to cook. https://ourbestbites.com/fresh-herb-flavored-salts/
Herb sugars: https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/herbal-sugars/?srsltid=AfmBOop4ny6-4IbIfQ8FRKJu8hlfSi1n8yY_n6-QMIsWpEBGzMvNpjHj
Serious Eats: 24 Recipes to Get the Most out of Your Herb Garden: https://www.seriouseats.com/herb-recipes
* Balm recipe: I’ve been making this for at least twenty years. Also makes a great gift! https://sherriegraham.substack.com/p/new-year
* Spaghetti Squash (oregano and basil): Perfect late summer lunch, and endlessly variable. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/13948/spaghetti-squash-i/
Easy Crusty Bread (add 2 tbsp rosemary and / or garlic):
https://sherriegraham.substack.com/p/the-best-and-easiest-bread-that-anyone
Rosemary focaccia: https://alexandracooks.com/2018/03/02/overnight-refrigerator-focaccia-best-focaccia/
Green Herb Salad Dressing: https://homegrownhappiness.com/green-herb-salad-dressing/#mv-creation-14-jtr
Chef Sophie Christinel’s Spring Soup: (Recipe in video description; uses lots of parsley and dill): I ADORE this soup. It is full of springtime green goodness.
Tutorials
Serious Eats: Microwave instructions for drying herbs: https://www.seriouseats.com/use-the-microwave-to-dry-your-herbs-for-long-lasting-intense-flavor
Oven drying herbs: https://extension.psu.edu/lets-preserve-drying-herbs
Mother Earth News Solar dehydrator plans: https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/solar-food-dehydrator-plans-zm0z14jjzmar/
Mountain Rose Herbs: Infusing Oils: https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/making-herbal-oils
Mountain Rose Herbs: Infused Herb Honey: https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/herbal-infused-honey
Gardenary: How to Make a Dried Herb Wreath: https://www.gardenary.com/blog/how-to-make-a-dried-herb-wreath
Mountain Rose Herbs: Simmer Pot Recipes: https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/simmer-pot-recipes-for-natural-home-scents
Create Whimsy Flower Pounding Tutorial: https://createwhimsy.com/projects/flower-pounding-tutorial-what-it-is-and-how-to-do-it/
Miscellaneous
* Spill the Tea Mahone Bay Lavender Cream Earl Grey - the best Lavender tea. https://www.spilltheteamahonebay.com/products/lavender-cream-earl-grey
PubMed: Health benefits of herbs and spices: the past, the present, the future https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17022438/
And for those who might want to review other information from the presentation, it’s attached below in PDF!
