Herbs and spices are a blessing in the kitchen, capable of adding a delicious twist to bland meals. A well-seasoned meal is like having a flavor party in your mouth, while a meal that lacks seasoning or is poorly done will pretty much send people wincing behind the dinner table. So naturally, herbs and spices are at the heart of proper seasoning. Beyond their rich flavor, they also offer several health benefits, including serving as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Here’s how to use herbs and spices to take your cooking to the next level. Label bottles with dates Image Credit To get the best seasoning effect, you want to use…
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Container Vegetable Gardening Tips
Usually, this time of year, I am monitoring my garden, watering and looking forward to a June harvest; however, due to breaking a bone in my foot at the end of April, I have been limited on what I can do. My plot garden never was tilled and nothing was planted. Until recently, it was not even mowed. I am grateful I purchased and planted several tomato plants, some herbs, a pepper plant and some lettuce before I injured myself. Doctors told me, I broke a bone attached to two tendons in my foot; resulting in an extra long time of healing. After four weeks of limited mobility, struggling with…
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7 Types of Basil for Spring Gardening
Used in many Italian dishes or to add springtime freshness to any culinary concoction, basil comes in many varieties, each with their own characteristics. Basil is one of the most fragrant and easiest of all the herbs to grow in your spring garden. Introduced to England in the 16th century, it made its way to America in the 17th century. It flourishes in the warmth of the Mediterranean countries, where it is so successfully combined with sun-ripened tomatoes. The famous, basil pesto, was created in Genoa (northern Italy), usually consisting of crushed garlic, basil, pine nuts, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, blended with olive oil. 7 Types of Basil Plants 1. Genovese …
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Skillet Lasagna For Two Without Leftovers
Three Meals for Two People Meal Three: Meaty Skillet Lasagna This meaty skillet lasagna is simple and scaled-down, requiring very little prep and it will not leave behind a wake of dirty dishes nor leftovers. Do not substitute no-boil lasagna noodles for the traditional, curly-edged lasagna noodles here because the no-boil noodles will fall apart. Most lasagna recipes are constructed to serve 8-10 people. Here, we just want enough to serve two people; however, this recipe is so filling, it could serve three people easily. This recipe recommends using 85% lean ground beef to cut down on the amount of grease; however, the beef is not as flavorful as Italian…
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Baked Chicken Zucchini Rigatoni
Even a beginner could make the home smell like an Italian restaurant with this baked chicken zucchini rigatoni pasta meal. Although zucchini is at its peak in the summertime, fresh zucchini is available at most supermarkets throughout the year. Adding chicken to this savory dish provides some protein. Zucchini A popular summer squash, a zucchini’s skin color can vary from dark to light green, sometimes with yellow markings that give it a striped look. The flavor is light and delicate. At your local market, select small zucchini, which will be younger and therefore more tender and will have thinner skins. The skin should be free of blemishes and have a vibrant…
