The aromas of fall elate this warm, fuzzy feeling that seems to linger within my soul… I want to hunker down somewhat, but the gardener in me refuses to let go of my love. The plants are telling me by their exasperated appearance that they’re ready to call it a season…
“Farewell, our garden matron, it’s been a great year Jean, but now we must depart… see you in the spring!” I wrestle with this and fight it because deep down in my lonely soul of winter days, I can’t bear the thought of the winter world that will all to soon envelope everything I love.
So in efforts to capture and hold on… I ‘put-up’.
I can.
I freeze.
I dry.
I preserve.
All winter long I can go to the freezer, cupboards and can shelves and remember the feeling of the prickly leaves of zucchini as I carefully reached in and took hold of her bountiful beauty.
I can look at the jars of salsa and reminisce of summer days strolling through the hoop house and gazing over the Heirloom tomatoes heavy with their colorful fruits.
Bringing up a jar of vegetable soup and tomato juice… blending their beauties together in a kettle and slowly warming up for all my loved ones. This rich, romantic aroma wafting through our home… but best of all… “Oh mom… that smells sooooo good!” That’s my reward.
Fall.
Harvest.
Food.
Life is good on the farm.
Herbs are such a blessing to any kitchen and as I’ve been showing, extremely easy to preserve. For those of us whose winter months don’t allow for growing, we are able to enjoy the fruits of our labor by preserving.
Here’s a step-by-step super easy way to freeze your garden herbs in olive oil. You can use this technique with any herb or combination of herbs.
STEP 1: Using a 12 compartment cupcake tin, cut 12 squares of plastic wrap to fit into each hole. Be sure they’re large enough
to come up over the rims at least 1 1/2″.
STEP 2: Filling only one hole at a time, place plastic wrap and press in; Take 1 Tbsp. of herb and place in hole.
STEP 3: Carefully pour olive oil into hole, filling until level with tin.
STEP 4: Repeat process until all holes are filled. Place in freezer for 48 hours to allow oil to completely solidify.
STEP 5: Lift each ‘puck’ up; if they stick a bit, carefully use the tip of a knife to help it pop out.
STEP 6: Quickly remove plastic and place them all in a large freezer bag. It is fine that the herbs and oil separated.
STEP 7: Store in freezer and enjoy all winter long! Yum!
How to use you herbed oil pucks:
*Toss them into cooked, drained pasta.
*Let thaw in a bowl and use in a pasta salad… yummy fresh herb flavor with that white stuff on the ground.
*Toss in with a stir fry.
*Use to sauté meat for fajitas in.
*Thaw and brush on a roast before putting in the oven.
*Use when frying potatoes for home fries.
… and of course, like I always say, the uses are only limited by your imagination!
You can also do these in ice cube trays, but for my size family… that’s kinda’ funny 😉
Happy Day,
Jean
I’m always learning, thank you.,…
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That blesses me… thank you so much for sharing, Jean
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This is really interesting. I’ll try this with the lime basil that I have to harvest because it’s going to seed. How do you dry yours?
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Hi again!
I dry my herbs right in the oven. Here’s a link to one of my articles on how to!
http://blogs.detroitnews.com/thegoodlife/2013/09/16/freezing-herbs-how-to-freeze-your-garden-herbs-in-olive-oil/
Hope this helps!
Jean
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Thanks, Jean!
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you’re very welcome!
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You are amazing!!! Thank you for all of your information.
Hugs,
Peggy
Peggy Mangan RN
EFT/MatrixReimprinting “Author of the forthcoming book,
The Renegade Survivor ~ From Cancer to Joy and Beyond” http://www.joyaftercancer.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/joyaftercancer
pmangan@avci.net 989-856-3855
Schedule a strategy session here:
https://www.timetrade.com/book/XRTWK
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Twas nothing my dear 😉
…glad you were able to be blessed by it Peggy!
❤ Jean
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Jean, I always have lots of orange mint, which all originated from one little plant. 🙂 that returns to me every year with it’s wonderful fresh smell. I really don’t know what to use it in, as in cooking. Recommendations please ? Thanks, Gale in South Carolina 🙂
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HI Gale! I would dry the leaves and use it as is… yummy orange tea! Or you could blend it with olive oil and brush it on fish or chicken. I Searched Dried Orange Mint Tea leaves and several recipes popped up. Here’s one that looked yummy…
http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/orange-mint-chicken
Hope this helps… good luck!
Jean
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This looks incredible!!!! I understand how it must feel to part ways with your beautiful garden every year…. thank you so much for sharing these creative ways to preserve herbs and other yummy things from your garden! I literally began to drool after looking at your photos. Can you cook as well? 🙂
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Thanks for the kind words Tamala! So nice that you were able to stop by my blog. Thanks…
I love to garden and preserve… and yeah, my friends and family tell me my cookin’s ok ;-). If you’d like to see all the canning and cooking along with my gardening, plus, come on over to my FB page… I think you’d like it!
Best,
Jean
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