It must have been the fresh herbs

Tag : How To Dry Fresh Garlic
The memories of Fernwood all came flooding back, like when I was anelementary school student and we would take field trips there. I'mnot sure if I loved it so much then or I really liked having a dayaway from the classroom.

I think I really did enjoy it.

Walking around and seeing all the different flowers and wildlife istruly amazing, and my kids just love being out there when we aren'tliving at the ballpark.

When writing my menus, I wanted to make them simple and fresh,utilizing all the fresh herbs.

The other day, I was picking some fresh oregano, and I saw abumblebee carry a ladybug off a plant and fly away. It really waspretty cool.

Oregano is one of my favorite herbs. It goes well in almost anymeat dish and with tons of dressings. It has always been associatedwith Italian and Greek cuisine, since oregano is native to Europeand the Mediterranean regions.

If you have ever grown it, you know oregano will grow fast inalmost any soil.

Every soil is different, and climate has a lot to do with theflavor of the herb. In warmer climates, the herb seems to bestronger and more pungent in flavor compared to the cooler regions.

The plant is hearty enough that it grows well into the fall monthsaround our area; the flavor just seems to get a little weaker asthe cold weather comes in. I have read and agree that after dryingoregano, it seems to get stronger and you don't have to use as muchas you do when cooking with fresh oregano.

I will pass on some helpful advice that was given to me: Weeding anherb garden is a pain, but potted herbs are much easier to dealwith. Or you could do like I did: work at a place with a huge herbgarden where they take care of it.

To dry out oregano, just cut the stem of the plant, hang it upsidedown and let it dry for a few weeks. Take it off the stem and putit in airtight containers. I still like making a pesto with it, andfreezing it in baggies to use all winter.

I did find out that oregano is high in phenolic acids. That helpswith everything from food-borne illnesses to the common cold andflu. What caught my attention was how it helps in the digestivesystem and takes away stomach cramps. That explains why I can eat abarrel of spaghetti and not get sick to my stomach.

So next time you're looking to try some fresh herbs, give oregano ashot. It will taste great and make you feel better.

Here is a marinade recipe for grilled pork or beef that usesoregano.

Oregano Marinade

1 cup olive oil

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped