One of the quickest and easiest ways to add amazing flavor to any meal that you make is by including aromatic fresh herbs. Dried herbs are great but if you really want to up the ante, fresh is the way to go.
However, we quickly realized we were spending lots of money on our herbs and often having to throw leftovers away because we weren’t using them fast enough. There is nothing worse than wasting money on food that goes in the garbage. But then we discovered a few tricks that made a huge difference on our budget and the amount that was being wasted….
1. Grow your own.Even if you can only grow them half of the year like us in New York, it is well worth it. Buying whole herb plants are much more economical and they keep growing! Plus, they are always available when you need them.
2. Experiment with different herbs to see what grows best for you. One herb that you will never have a problem growing is mint. Mint is an invasive plant so keep it in a container by itself because it will take over if it is planted with anything else.
3. Everyone loves basil- even the bugs.One trick we have learned about basil is to plant it near our rosemary. Insects love basil but they despise rosemary so even keeping them in close proximity, deters those pesky bugs from gobbling up the basil.
4. Invest in an herb keeper. This prolongs the life of the herbs that you do buy. We can never seem to grow healthy thyme, so if we buy some, we put it in our herb keeper and it lasts so much longer. You just have to change the water every 2 or 3 days. Even if you don’t want to purchase something to store your herbs, it helps to put the roots in water and keep the leaves under a plastic bag. They will last much longer if you provide them with a little water.
5. Dry or freeze leftover herbs. If we really have a lot of herbs to use, we put them in our dehydrator for a few hours to make our own dry herbs. But another option is to chop them up and freeze them in a little water inside herb or ice cube tray. Then just pop one or two out when you are making a stir fry for instant flavor. Both methods work great and you won’t be wasteful!
Fresh herbs are a great way to add a little pop to any meal that you make but don’t fall into the trap of buying wilted herbs at the supermarket. It is well worth the time and energy to grow and preserve your own fresh herbs.
Pizza is one of our favorite foods. In fact, we usually make it once a week, or sometimes more! We used to buy pre-made dough, not realizing how quick and easy it is to make it at home. But sometimes, we get tired of a traditional dough and want a pizza with a more flavorful crust. This crust is full of fresh and herbs and zesty garlic. Simply add your favorite toppings for a full-flavored pizza that is bursting with garlicy goodness.
- 3 ½ Cups Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp Coconut Sugar
- 1 Envelope Rapid Rise Yeast
- 2 tsp Salt
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 ½ Cups Warm Water
- 5 Cloves Garlic (Minced)
- Fresh Basil Leaves (Chopped Very Fine)
- Fresh Thyme Leaves (Chopped Very Fine)
- Fresh Oregano Leaves (Chopped Very Fine)
- Chop all fresh herbs.
- In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients including the herbs and garlic.
- Pour the oil and water into the bowl. Using a large spoon or your hands, mix until well combined. There should be no loose flour left in the bowl.
- Cover the bowl with a dry clean towel or a piece of cling wrap. Allow to sit and rise for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
- Use as you would your regular pizza dough. However, we recommend rolling it very thin. This dough is better as a thin crust pizza.
- Enjoy!
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