How To: Make a Windowsill Herb Garden

Dear “I need some serious help with my kitchen creations,”


I am not going to lie to you—I am very comfortable in the kitchen and would go as far to say that I have worked up quite the culinary inclination. I owe about 50 percent of this talent to the genes I got from my amazing Italian and Portuguese mother who has incredible cooking abilities and taught me everything and anything I need to know about chopping, sautéing, preparing, plating, baking and eating great food. The other 50 percent can be divided evenly between having a boyfriend who loves to eat and genuinely appreciates everything I make and working to become as good as my mother was and still is. And while my townhouse kitchen has more than adequate space for practicing everything she taught me, it is not quite the same as cooking at home. This is not due to the fact that she is there in our kitchen, always ready and willing to offer little tips and trips as I make my way from the cook top to the oven and everywhere in between (though I do love bonding with my family through food and cooking with my mom)—rather, it has to do with the differences in equipment and the differences in ingredients. Equipment is something I will just have to accept until I can afford all the wonderful William-Sonoma cookware mom has built up in her culinary repertoire, but I should not have to settle for mediocre ingredients. And in my food-filled journey that began almost 17 years ago with plastic cupcakes and synthetic spaghetti in a Playmate kitchen in New York, I have found that one of the simplest ways to enhance your recipe constituents is with fresh and flavorful herbs. This might seem easier said than done, and up until a couple months ago it most certainly was—that is, until I decided to create a windowsill herb garden of my own. It is so wonderful being able to add some fresh chives to a spinach and goat cheese omelet in the morning, have some pesto-tossed pasta with sundried tomatoes for lunch and make fresh mint tea at night. And as long as you remember to water your pants regularly and give them plenty of sunlight, from the comfort of your own kitchen you too can create palate-pleasing meals, drinks, spreads, and snacks, almost as delicious as the ones mom makes.           
Sincerely,
Samantha

P.S. Check out some of my favorite herbal inspirations and feel free to send any questions, comments or “How To” needs my way at
stoscano@udel.edu.


EIGHT EASY WAYS WITH HERBS

1. Toss some muddled mint leaves and lime juice in your mojitos for refreshing flavor.


2. Blend fresh basil leaves with olive oil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts and salt and pepper to test for a simple and piquant Italian pesto.


3. Add a sprinkling of cilantro to your salsa for a Mexican-inspired mixture.


4. Cream up softened salted butter and stir in garlic, pepper and oregano before refrigerating the mix in wax paper overnight for melt-in-your mouth herb butter that will melt perfectly on grilled, marinated steak.


5. Stick some sprigs of fresh rosemary in a glass jar with some slightly warmed olive oil to infuse it with a spicy and warm herbal flavor.


6. Whip up some freshly flavored cream cheese by mixing the spread with minced green onions and chives and sprinkling it with a dash of garlic salt.


7. Alternate layers of chicken, sweet sausage, peppers and full, fresh sage leaves for an easy and delicious dinner.


8. Go Greek with tangy tzatziki sauce made from a savory blend of yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, dill, lemon juice and garlic, salt and pepper to taste.

 
DIY: WINDOWSILL HERB GARDEN

Materials: small wooden crate, newspaper, wooden letters (that spell out the word of your choice), glue, paint, three or so plastic containers, soil, seeds
 
Step One: Cover the small wooden crate (I found mine at Michael’s craft store) with newspaper. You can also use magazine or colored paper or simply paint the crate, but I went with the vintage newspaper feel.

 
Step Two: Paint the wooden letters (again, Michael’s craft store) in a color that goes with the crate covering and, once they dry, arrange and glue them on the front. I opted to go with “Home,” but feel free to choose something else, such as a family name or kitchen-themed word such as, “Cook,” “Herbs” or “Bon Appetite.”
 
Step Three: Fill the plastic containers, which you can find at the Dollar Store or any craft store and should be about the same height as the crate opening, with soil and plant the seeds, one kind per one container.

 
Step Four: Mark the containers with permanent marker or herb markers so you can remember which seeds are growing in which container. Place on the windowsill in your kitchen, water and enjoy your fresh, flavorful herbs once they bloom.