Herbs 101 - How To Plant, Grow, & Cook With Natural Herbs

Natural herbs have been in use since the dawn of time. The Chinese have
been using these flavorful weeds for everything from spicing up a favorite
dish to curing allergies. Common herbs are most known for their culinary
uses. There are medicinal applications for herbs as well.
The Native Americans knew the value of an herb. Whether it was to cure a
toothache or cure an upset stomach, there was an herb for everything.
Some of the best foods are made to taste that way because of an herb.
What would a pumpkin pie be without the herbs. The most popular
sausages get their flavoring from natural herbs. Most of them can be
grown right in the household garden. People forget the value of an herb
until they try to cook without them. Herbs may be an overlooked little plant
in the yard, but it is a plant that can pack a punch. They have been for
centuries.
While hiking in the Alps two people came across the body of a man whom
the hikers thought had fallen and been injured. As it turned out, it was the
discovery of the century. The body was that of a man who had lived over
5,000 years ago. He had been caught in the big freeze with the entrance of
the ice age. What made this so unique were the things he carried with him.
One of these items was a small leather pouch of herbs. The herbs were
reputed to be for medicinal purposes.
Herbs have been used for trading in ancient times. Travels to the far east
brought wonderful spices like ginger and cinnamon to Europe. Sage was in
demand in Asia. From the desire to have these aromatic and medicinal
plants came many trade routes. The demand for herbs opened many
doors to different cultures.
The early uses of herbs were mainly dedicated to medicine. People
discovered certain plants made the body feel better, more relaxed, or in
less pain. Chamomile gives a calming effect. Most mints can settle an
upset stomach. For the longest time, herbs were the only medicines
anyone knew about. Once it was realized that supernatural spirits were not
the cause of many illnesses, herbs became more and more important.
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Herbs 101 How To Plant, Grow, & Cook With Natural Herbs
With the onset of new medical practices, the use of herbs became less
relied upon. In some countries it even became illegal to practice the use of
herbal medicine. Herbs were considered substandard. Many people who
had relied on herbs for healing were now being accused of witchcraft.
It was not until the 1960's and 1970's that herbs started making a
comeback. The use of herbs once again started to gain popularity. Now
people are realizing that many illnesses are better treated with herbs than
any other medicines. In fact, when it was discovered that many prescribed
medications were based on a natural herb remedy, some people swore off
medicines and started using only natural herbs.
Somehow, though, herbs never did leave the cook pot. Whether is was to
add flavor to a cake or pie or season a pot of stew, herbs have been in the
kitchen forever.
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Herbs 101 How To Plant, Grow, & Cook With Natural Herbs
Chapter 2 – Herbs in the Kitchen
Anyone who has ever done any type of baking or cooking knows that the
food just tastes better with seasoning. This can be as simple as adding salt
and pepper, or complicated as using a blend of spices for the perfect taste.
What is surprising to some people is pepper is an herb.
Pepper is a berry from the Piper Nigrum plant. Black and white pepper are
made from the same plant. The un-ripened berries are used for the black
pepper while the red, ripe ones are used for the white pepper.
Along with the natural herb, pepper, many other herbs are used to create
culinary masterpieces. Nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon are common
varieties of herbs used in the kitchen. Sage, oregano, and basil are three
more.
As more and more plants were discovered for their pungent flavor, people
started making extraordinary dishes. What would a roast beef sandwich be
without horseradish? Try making a good breakfast sausage when there is
no sage around. Herb bread would just be bread if it were not for the
flavorful little buggers.
One of the most beneficial attributes is that herbs have no calories, have no
fatty acids, no cholesterol, and generally no bad things at all. They just
have a unique taste that wakes the taste buds in all of us.
When using herbs in cooking, it is important to remember a little goes a
long way. Too much can actually distract you from the natural flavor of the
food. The entire concept of using herbs is to highlight the natural flavors.
Too much can overpower the food and result in a ruined meal.
There is even an herb which adds the sweetness of sugar without all the
calories. This is an herb called STEVIA...