Preserve the Herbs

There’s nothing like the flavor fresh herbs add to a culinary creation. During the summer, fresh herbs are plentiful and the delicious dishes we can throw together with them are a real treat. So, what about in the dead of winter when herbs are scarce but our tastebuds are craving a little spark of freshness? Well, here’s an idea: freeze your fresh herbs in the summer and make use of them six months later when the weather has turned blustery.

I have frozen rosemary and basil with great success using this technique and I’m sure it would work on other savory herbs as well. Finely chop your fresh herbs, mix in a little olive oil (just enough to coat) and spoon into ice cube trays. Fill the trays about ¾ of the way with the herb mixture and the rest of the way with water. Put the trays in the freezer until herb cubes are solid. Pop out the cubes and place them in plastic baggies for later use in sauces, soups, etc. Enjoy!

Flippy Hem Trick

Is there anything more frustrating than a hem that flips up after it’s been washed and dried? Of course, I realize the answer to that question would be “yes”…but, a hem that won’t behave is still pretty annoying. I tried something a few days ago on one of these flippy hems and lo and behold it worked! I know those individuals, like myself, who are morally opposed to ironing will love this little tip.

After I took the offending piece of clothing (a dress in this case) out of the dryer, I immediately hung it up, flattened out the hem and clipped a couple of clothes pins to it. I left the pins on for about an hour and voila...flat hem! Apparently the weight of the pins and the pressure that they put on the material kept the hem straight. Who knew?