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This past spring, I planted an herb garden, as I do every year. I love having a garden on the deck right outside of our bedroom. I keep the hose on the deck and give it a water every day during the heat of summer, every other day in cooler weather. Every fall, there comes a time when I have to put these herbs to good use. In this post, I will be sharing some of my favorite herb recipes that I use every year. But first, let’s take a tour of my herb garden!
My main garden is a large white box on wheels that my dad built for me. This was originally going to be a window box, but we couldn’t find studs under the window to attach it to. I ended up turning it into a raised herb garden. The bottom has holes drilled for drainage!
This year, I had mint, oregano, thyme, and lavender that grew back from last year. I didn’t have to plant these because they grew back on their own! In addition, I planted some rosemary and basil. I used a special soil intended for raised garden beds. The lavender is a whole other story. I used stones and sand mixed into the soil to create good drainage for the lavender, which it needs to survive. Here’s the lavender growing tutorial that I followed.
In addition to my white box, this year I added two potted eucalyptus plants, which grew huge. I love the way these plants look – they are just stunning! However, the variety of eucalyptus I selected is more delicate. It doesn’t have a strong scent and didn’t dry nicely when I tried to clip some. I did put a stem in water on my kitchen table, and that has stayed beautiful for over a week! Next year, I want to try a different variety. Despite this, I have enjoyed having these stunners sitting on my deck.
I’ve been using my garden little by little throughout the summer, making pesto, adding basil and rosemary to dishes, and crafting compound butters. As fall approaches, it comes time for me to really figure out how to use the rest of my herb garden. Here, I’m sharing some of my favorite herb recipes that help me put every last herb to use!
I thought I was going to hate rosemary lemonade, but I was pleasantly surprised. This beverage is delightful and a great use of rosemary. I love whipping up a batch for myself or some friends.
My gift to my friends for Christmas last year was rosemary salt. It’s great for seasoning chicken or roasted vegetables. My favorite thing is that this stuff has a long shelf life – it lasts for up to one year in an airtight container.
A classic pesto is my favorite way to make use of fresh basil. It makes a great grilled cheese, panini, or even a pasta dish. Pesto lasts for about two weeks in the fridge, but it can be frozen for up to six months.
In addition to classic pesto, oregano also makes a tasty pesto. I really enjoy using this recipe for the same things as basil pesto – great pasta dishes or yummy sandwiches.
I had a surplus of mint this year, and at first I struggled figuring out how to use it. I’m not a fan of mojitos, and the last time I made mint syrup it ended up going to waste. This year, I discovered a new recipe that I love: mint lemonade. It’s truly the most delicious and refreshing beverage. I’ve made it for my family and for guests when they come over for dinner.
Another herb that I struggled to use was thyme. I don’t naturally gravitate toward cooking with this herb, but it grew back from last year and I didn’t want it to go to waste. I ended up trying this delicious butter recipe and loving it!
Rosemary Thyme Herb Butter Recipe
Another delicious butter recipe is this sweet oregano compound butter, which is sweetened with honey. I absolutely loved spreading this on bread and bagels, and I highly recommend giving it a try!
Sweet Oregano Compound Butter Recipe
Lavender lemonade is a favorite beverage of my husband and I. We love serving it to friends when they visit for dinner, or bringing it when we visit others. The first time I tried it, I was surprised by how much I loved it. It’s the most refreshing summer drink!
This lavender honey latte can be made hot to iced. It’s a super refreshing drink that was inspired by my friend’s order at our local coffee shop. You definitely need to give it a try!
I love the scent of dried lavender and eucalyptus, so I made some sachets to scent my drawers. You may recall that my garden eucalyptus didn’t have much scent, so I actually made these with store bought eucalyptus stems.
Lavender and Eucalyptus Sachets Tutorial
I hope you enjoyed this selection of herb recipes! Feel free to share your favorites in the comments below.
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