herbs

If you've never grown or ground your own herbs for cooking, you are REALLLYYY missing out.  The first time I tried freshly ground cumin in my hummus was one of the best days of my life.  Freshly cut rosemary from the garden adds so much flavor to roasted potatoes.  Freshly ground cinnamon and nutmeg?  Best damn oatmeal EVER!!

I like to compare using fresh herbs to tomatoes.  Homegrown tomatoes versus store bought.  The difference is phenomenal.  Remember the first time you had a homegrown tomato ( or any homegrown vegetable for that matter) and you couldn't believe how wonderfully flavorful and fresh it tasted?  When my boyfriend and I first started dating, I remember he said that he didn't like tomatoes.  I asked him if he'd even had a homegrown.  He's now hooked on my summertime delicious mouthwatering tomato sandwiches.

Now, it's pretty ridiculous to attempt to grow every herb there is.  Mainly for the reason that most of the plants are native to the tropics  and it's just impossible for them to thrive in the States.  Unless, of course, you are Martha Effing Stewart and have a kick ass green house.  Secondly, I mean who really has the time to take care of that many plants?!
Alternatively, at some super markets, Whole Foods is where I buy mine, you can buy WHOLE DRIED HERBs.  Its actually cheaper to buy them whole and grind them as you need them.  They stay fresh longer in their whole form.  And the difference in taste is sooooo worth it.  The first time I freshly ground cinnamon sticks and compared with the usual cinnamon in the store bought shaker, I was amazed at the difference in aromas.  I kept smelling them back and forth, showing everyone that came over, made them smell too.  You just can't imagine how much more flavor is out there.  Waiting to be savored.

I use an old coffee grinder to grind mine.  I read somewhere that coffee grinders weren't good for this purpose, but I've had no problems.  Of course, once it's an herb and spice grinder, you shouldn't grind coffee in it anymore.

I bought some good glass jars from the Container Store ( heart!)  to keep the leftover ground herbs in.  They also had some cute little labels that I couldn't resist.

Organizational and art supplies are my weakness.  Oh.  And plants.  Have I mentioned that?