| Linguine, pesto, lasagna - your mouth is watering, | | | | as are garlic and basil. In fact, the smell of garlic |
| right? Italian food is one of the favorite cuisines. | | | | and basil not only tickles your taste buds, but it |
| From the humble pizza to Tuscan feasts, Italian | | | | also has the added bonus of repelling flies and |
| food is the perfect choice for any meal or | | | | other kitchen pests. |
| occasion. To make the best Italian food, you need | | | | Another great thing about growing an Italian herb |
| the best Italian ingredients which means durum | | | | garden is that you can use your herbs both for |
| wheat pasta, gnocchi, fresh tomatoes, a variety | | | | cooking and for decoration. If you grow your |
| of hard and soft cheeses, and aromatic Italian | | | | herbs outdoors, you will need to harvest and dry |
| herbs. While the other ingredients are the base, it | | | | them for use in the winter. Frankly, some recipes |
| is the right blend of Italian herbs that makes your | | | | work better with dried herbs. When this is the |
| meal memorable, but these herbs can be | | | | case, you can gather large bunches of herbs and |
| expensive and hard to find fresh in the winter | | | | hang them upside down from your ceiling, walls, |
| months. So how about growing your own Italian | | | | or doorways. Add some flare to the kitchen by |
| herb garden to get fresh herbs? | | | | tying up the bundles from your Italian herb garden |
| In order to grow your Italian herb garden you | | | | with a strip of red and white checked cloth, just |
| first need to know what herbs and spices are | | | | like what you would find on the table at an Italian |
| quintessential for Italian cooking. Favored | | | | restaurant. If your ceiling is not conducive to |
| ingredients vary from region to region, but this list | | | | hanging herbs, a great idea for decorating with |
| is a good place from which to start: thyme, garlic, | | | | drying herbs is to mount an old rake to your |
| basil, parsley, rosemary, sage, oregano, chives, | | | | kitchen wall and hang the herbs off the tines. |
| and fennel. All of these herbs are considered to | | | | Done right, you can transform your kitchen into a |
| be hearty and they also grow well all year round | | | | little piece of rural Italy. It might even make your |
| in pots. They all can be grown outdoors in the | | | | food taste better! |
| summer, but they should be moved indoors | | | | When you begin to use Italian herbs in your |
| during the winter months unless your climate is as | | | | cooking, you can either go by the amounts |
| mild as that of southern Italy. | | | | recommended in the recipe book or you can let |
| One of the most convenient places to establish | | | | your nose be your guide. There are a few simple |
| your Italian herb garden is in your kitchen. This | | | | guidelines for consistently finding the best |
| keeps all your plants close at hand for plucking the | | | | combination of Italian herbs. Garlic should always |
| bit you need for each evening meal and | | | | be used. "It is not Italian without garlic". Sage is a |
| harvesting your herbs could not be easier - simply | | | | very strong herb and can overpower other |
| take a pair of kitchen scissors and snip off the | | | | flavors. Use sage early in the cooking process to |
| parts that you want to use. The leaves of most | | | | mellow its taste. Basil and rosemary have lighter, |
| herbs can be plucked fully off, whereas shoots | | | | crisper flavors. Basil is also the key ingredient in |
| can be cut back about 4 to 6 inches at a time. | | | | good 'pesto genovese'. Parsley and fennel can be |
| Harvesting also promotes new growth and keeps | | | | used as an after dinner digestive aid. Fennel should |
| your Italian herb garden looking abundant and | | | | also be liberally sprinkled throughout Italian |
| healthy. As you snip off most herbs, they release | | | | sausages. As you begin growing an Italian herb |
| a pungent scent that will fill your kitchen with the | | | | garden you will find your favorite flavor |
| smells of delicious Italian cooking. Chives are | | | | combinations for each dish, but rest assured they |
| especially fragrant immediately after harvesting, | | | | will all be delicious! |