Herb Garden...or something...

[TaylorMade]

I have two kinds of Oregano and Mint...so far, I've only plucked my oregano, dried the leaves and used that.

Any suggestions for the mint? I WAS Gonna do the same thing...(sometimes I rub the leaves on my neck as a cheap perfume. . . DJM!) but any of our resident rootworkers/herb people/organic ethusiasts have any ideas?

*Taylor*

[Cherokee_Mountaincat]

Chop the mint very fine, put it on a cookie sheet and put it in the oven at 350for a few minutes until it is dried and kind of 'crisp' like dried parsley. You can also do this method in a dehydrator, too. Its great in tea, in baking, sprinkled over cookies, all kinds of things. :} Sprinkle some in an ice tray and fill it up, that way you minty ice for summery drinks.
Have fun Darlin.
Cat

[Annika L]

I have two kinds of Oregano and Mint...so far, I've only plucked my oregano, dried the leaves and used that.

Any suggestions for the mint? I WAS Gonna do the same thing...(sometimes I rub the leaves on my neck as a cheap perfume. . . DJM!) but any of our resident rootworkers/herb people/organic ethusiasts have any ideas?

*Taylor*

Mint is awesome in Greek and Middle Eastern marinades, and Indian chutnies.

It is also wonderful when infused into a water and sugar mixture and made into Mint Juleps.

Both of these uses are for *fresh* mint...I never dry the stuff, myself.

I always like to have some mint about during Spring and Summer. But Taylor...be very careful where you plant it...it'll absolutely take over as much garden or yard space as it possibly can!

[onewhocares]

Lots of things to do with mint Taylor.

When you want to take a refreshing bath, take a few sprigs in crush them in your hands to release the oils and put them in your bath water.

If you want a mint infused facial toner add mint to that as well as to baby oil....will make the "perfume" last longer.

I like to take fresh mint, fresh ginger and equal amounts of white sugar and water and make a simple syrup which can be used for all sorts of drinks....Mojitos, Margaritas, Side Cars.

The uses are limitless.

Belle

[citystyleguy]

...as herb fanatic, i can truly appreciate your interest; by the way the listed ideas in this thread are excellent!!! especially the mint julipe on a hot summer evening;:rolleyes: oh, yeah, you'er from florida, a great place to try out the mj receipe!! heidiously sweet drink, but hmm, hmm the mint hits the southern comfort, so ice cold!!! sort of sweet tea on steriods!

my suggestion is click on any of the food websites, i.e. foodnetwork, delish on msn, of allreceipes.com, type in the herb of the moment, and a million and more of great receipes.

also, plant herbs in pots, not in the ground or you will be fighting for your life, herbs take over everything!

[TaylorMade]

Those of you worrying about a mint oregano revolution on my front box (lol ^_^) need not worry; all of them are in pots. :)

I'm definitely trying out Mountaincat's method of drying out my mint and the ice thing. Prolly a good weekend for mojitos.

*Taylor*

[Canticle]

If you are a meat eater, Taylor and like lamb, have you ever made mint sauce, to go with the meat. When I was a child, we had mint growing in the garden, so it got freshly picked, for the Sunday roast. My mother used to chop the mint into more or less a pulp, adding a little sugar and then adding vinegar, to make the sauce. One can also buy mint jelly, but it's never the same as fresh mint.

I have also read that chewing a mint leaf is a breath cleanser....but then mint is put into toothpaste, so makes sense. I think mint also aids digestion of food.

Versatile, it most certainly is.

[littlerayofsunshine]

Well.. I don't have anymore mint thoughts. growing up i chewed fresh leaves and placing it tea can be soothing. It can also open up the sinuses.

But for the dried oregano. I have a little ditty good for steaks (especially if the steaks aren't that great) or to put on a slice of a fresh loaf of Italian bread.

Hope you like raw garlic..lol

in a very small bowl or handy brandy glass.

fill 3/4 full extra light virgin olive oil.

finely diced or minced garlic (as much as you desire)

a small palm of salt

fresh pepper as much as you wish. i usually leave it out.

couple of pinches of dried oregano.

*made in advance, it can rest at room temp and fuse together.

just top on a steak or lightly spoon on the bread.

Enjoy..

Last step.. Chew mint to get rid of garlic breath..lol

but raw garlic is really good for you.. and its one way to enjoy it without it burning your mouth.