While writing about herbs this morning I am inspired by the warm sun stretching through my office window.  The gentle warmth of spring is lapping across my newly formed growth of spring bulbs and our fragrant garden of fresh culinary herbs.  Our Rosemary Trees, Oregano's, Mints, Lemon Balm, Thyme and many others are all shaking off this winters chilly dampness and reaching for the heavens!

For those of us who live in seasonal climates, such as Seattle, I am sure you can relate to the exuberance of the Spring Season!  It is the sign of a new and returning botanical life displays to us that nature is a complex and beautiful process!

I am dedicating this spring and all its joy to my dear mother who passed from this earth this past winter.  Her constant excitement for a warm sunny day, flowers and the many joys that life have to offer will forever live on with me and all she touched through her joyous and love filled life!

The Chef at WorldWideRecipes best describes the culinary significance and heritage of herbs in his introduction to, "All About... Herbs."
"All About.. Herbs"
For as long as humans have been cooking, we have been cooking with
herbs.In our eternal effort to make meals more agreeable,
prehistoric cooks plucked a few leaves from wild plants and added them
to the fire or stew pot in a practice that was already ancient when
later generations took the first bold steps towards agriculture and
civilization.Herbs and spices are so fundamental and essential to
the art of cooking that I often wonder if preparing food without them
can properly be called cooking at all.

HERBS - INTRODUCTION:
For centuries, herbs have been prized all over the world for their remarkable seasoning qualities.The special characteristics of herbs can transform a collection of foods into something quite delicious and irresistible.  In addition to herbs being a veritable component of enticing recipes and encompassing every type of dish, herbs can be used to flavor oils, teas, drinks, pickles, sauces, dips, butters, cheeses, condiments and sugars.

GROWING AND USING HERBS:
With a little careful planning, starting an herb garden is well within the capability of even inexperienced gardeners, and once established, herbs are fairly undemanding plants to grow.  Visually, the muted, dusky colors and pretty, delicate flowers create a hazy, romantic atmosphere that provides so much pleasure for the gardener.  Then there is the pleasure of cooking with herbs to enhance the taste of your everyday cuisine.

COOKING WITH HERBS:
Herbs have always been an essential part of our diet and with such a wide variety available all year round, there is little reason not to use them.Herbs are healthy.Not only do they add essential flavor to our meals, they contain valuable vitamins and minerals, they stimulate our appetites and aid the digestion of food.

CULINARY CULTURES - HERB TOOLS:
Culinary Cultures is featuring a variety of culinary tools which can transform your kitchen into an herb friendly facility!  Our products described below provide you with proper storage, preparation and effective use of fresh and dried herbs and spices:

The Fresh Herb Keeper - This storage system will greatly increase the lifespan of all your freshly picked or purchased herbs.Excellent for maintaining quality of Basil and other delicate herbs.
Herb/Spice Rack & Grinder Set - Attractive and effective in providing 9 separate grinders for a wide variety of your favorite herbs and spices fresh ground as needed.
Mortar & Pestle - Essential for every kitchen.
Double Bladed Mezzaluna - The ultimate herb chopping tool
Dried Herb Grinder - Create your own blend of herbs and spices and grind to order while cooking or at the table.
Nutmeg Grinder - Cooking with fresh nutmeg has never been easier.
Tower Grater - Ergonomic design with 3 grating levels.
Furi Diamond Fingers - A sharp knife is required for preparation of all herbs.The Revolutionary Furi Diamond Fingers will maintain an herb ready edge easily and effectively.

CHEF RON'S HERB RECIPES:
Herb Vinegar's - Many herbs and their flowers make delicious vinegar's as their flavors are very readily absorbed.Basil, rosemary, thyme, bay, tarragon, dill, mint and even rose petals give good results.Red or white vinegar, sherry or cider vinegar's all work equally well although richly colored, red wine vinegar might obscure the sprigs of herbs in the bottles.Do not use untreated aluminum pan for heating the vinegar as it might impart a metallic taste.
Rosemary-infused Vinegar
Heating the vinegar for the infusing, (steeping), and the herbs makes strong-flavored herb vinegar that is ready for almost immediate use.
Makes 2 1/2 cups.
2 1/2 cups white or cider vinegar
6 TBL chopped fresh rosemary plus several whole sprigs
1. Bring the vinegar just to the boiling point in a large pan.Pour over the chopped rosemary in a bowl.Cover and leave to infuse, (steep), for 3 days.
2. Strain the vinegar through a muslin-lined sieve into a large jug, (pitcher).Pour into 2 1/2 cup clean, dry bottle or 2 smaller bottles.Push several sprigs of rosemary, tips facing uppermost into the bottle for decoration.Fit with a stopper or cork.Use immediately if you keep the herbs in the vinegar or store up to 6 months without the herbs.
*Preparing herb infused vinegar's can provide you with an arsenal of flavorful combinations for marinating, cooking and salads plus they are a wonderful gift item!

Herb Oils - Strongly flavored herbs such as thyme, bay, basil, rosemary, marjoram, oregano, sage and tarragon are particularly suited to flavoring oils, and in some cases the flowers work well too.Use a single herb or a mixture of two or more and add additional ingredients like garlic and chilli for a more robust flavor.Choose oils, like light olive oils, sunflower oil and rapeseed oil that will not overpower the herbs.The paler the color of the oil, the more the herbs will show through - worth bearing in mind if giving as presents.Once made for a couple weeks, check the intensity of the flavor.If to indistinct, (remember it will be further diluted once used in cooking), remove the sprigs and add fresh ones to the jar.

Basil Oil
When making basil oil the leaves can be lightly bruised to bring out the flavor.If you like, use garlic-infused, (steeped), oil instead of natural olive oil for a delicious Mediterranean flavor.
1/2 cup basil leaves
2 cups olive oil
1. Bruise the basil leaves lightly using a mortar and pestle, then stir in a little of the oil.
2. Transfer the mixture to a clean, dry bottle and pour over the remaining oil.Cover with lid or cork and store in a cool place for 2-3 weeks.
3. To remove basil leaves and replace with fresh sprigs for decoration, line a sieve with muslin and drain the oil into a jug, (pitcher).Allow all the oil to soak through before removing the leaves from the sieve.
4. Discard and pour the oil back into the jar.Add fresh leaves.Cover with a lid or cork and store in a cool place.

Fresh Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is definitely work making, provided you have a little time and patience.Store in refrigerator, covered tightly for up to 1 week.Use the freshest possible eggs.Infants, the elderly and those compromised immune systems should avoid eating foods containing uncooked eggs.
2 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups olive oil
1-2 TBL fresh lemon juice or white wine vinegar
1-2 TBL Dijon mustard
salt and ground black pepper
1. Put egg yolks in a bowl with a pinch of salt, and beat well.
2. Add the oil, a little at a time, beating constantly with an electric mixer or balloon whisk.
3. When a quarter of the oil has been added, beat in 1-2 tsp. of the lemon juice or vinegar.
4. Continue beating in the oil in a thin steady stream.As the mayonnaise thickens, add a little more lemon juice or vinegar.
5. When all the oil has been added, stir in the mustard, seasoning and a little more lemon juice or vinegar if necessary.(If the mayonnaise is too thick, stir in a spoonful of water.)Store covered with plastic film or in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Variations - Mayonnaise is a wonderful base for the addition of many types of fresh and dried herbs and spices.You can also experiment with using your infused herb oils and vinegar's in the production of this wonderful accompaniment.

If you have any questions in regard to any of our listed products or recipes please contact
ChefRon@CulinaryCultures.com