Something about the ever-closer holidays conjures up thoughts of tasty casseroles fresh from the oven and piping hot beverages with swirls of steam rising from our favorite mug that help make rosy cheeks even rosier.
Why not add a new twist of flavor to go along with the steamy twists? Adding a sprinkle of fresh or dried farmer’s market herbs to any hot food or beverage can add a richness to the festivities in your home that permeates all the senses. When all our senses have been nourished, our soul delights, don’t you think?
The most popular herbs and spices are sage, rosemary, mint, oregano, basil, dill, parsley, thyme, and cinnamon. Just reading about them brings to mind the sparkling sights and tinkling sounds of the holidays.
Sage has a unique earthy twist and enhances poultry and dressings with a hint of peppery flavor. After using rubbed sage for years, I decided to add some not-so-finely diced fresh green sage to our Thanksgiving dressing. My goodness, what a spark for our taste buds! It has been a Christmas tradition in our house ever since.
Gourmet cooks also use sage to flavor soups, specifically vegetable soups. No wonder it’s sometimes called “garden sage” or “kitchen sage.” Many family cookbooks are packed with gourmet seasoning blends of rosemary, parsley, thyme, oregano, basil, and dill in age-old recipes passed down from grandmother to girlfriend for centuries.
Mint leaves added to carrot casserole refresh the palate and also freshen up the dish in which they are served. When a food pleases the eye, it accomplishes much more than simply mindlessly spooning it out of a boring serving plate. Imagine mint-infused cooked carrots glistening on a bright white plate with little sprigs of mint tucked in, trying to peek out. Add a halved maraschino cherry, placed comfortably on the side to refresh the eye.
Cinnamon is highly aromatic and when mixed with sage, dried apples and honey, it becomes a warm cinnamon punch that the whole family can enjoy. Add boiling water to a few slices of dried apples, a sage leaf, and a tablespoon of honey, then stir in a cinnamon stick. The concoction can make you sleep so well that you’ll wonder the next morning if you were sprinkled with fairy dust the night before.
How festive, how fun!
