Herbs, I’ll say it again…
They delight.
Oh, What is a “Bouquet Garni” you ask?
Simply put a Bouquet Garni is a bundle of aromatic herbs. (Don’t you just LOVE the word “aromatic”???) Sometimes packed in a little bag that is easily hung off the side of your pot, other times bound with kitchen twine or leek leaves ready to be thrown into the pot to add heady flavor and fished out when the cooking is over.
I love the idea of experiment with citrus zest as seen in the Google image~!
I have been making SCADS of them for the winter and reveling in the fragrance that fills the kitchen and stains my hands. They are now dry, ready for my next round of chicken stock or soup a l’ongion.
There are varying opinions on the traditional combination of herbs and of those opinions I have chosen:
Rosemary
Italian Parsley
Thyme
Bay Leaf
&
Sage
For my Provencal Blend
and for my Italian Blend I have switched it up just a bit and used:
Italian Parsly
Rosemary
Bay Leaf
Basil
&
Oregano
(All home grown except the Bay Leaf – I am requesting a Bay tree for Christmas. Wonder if I can keep one of those alive in one of my bright windows?)
Next year I hope to add more variety with and tinker with Marjoram and Chervil and other herbs I have not yet grown.
Our herbs are organically grown with lots of love… you should see My Chickens (the kids) revel in the smell of the Rosemary and Basil. They are such old souls!
Sometimes B.G. are very small but I have made mine about eight inches long so they are easily to retrieve and fun to handle.
If you have herbs this season, head on out and make your own Bouquet Garni… all winter long you will be happy you did! It’s tres simple to make your own with loose herb leaves and a spice ball too!
Next in this Series…
“Herbs – What Goes with What?”
Oooh, what a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing and teaching us about “Bouquet Garni”.
Can’t wait to hear news about Baby #4!
Blessings,
Val
I love making these also..Thanks for YOUR ideas~
Years and years ago I had an older friend I thought of as an Aunt teach me how to make and use a Bouquet Garni! They are little marvels in the kitchen!
cheers~
Angela…your bouquets are beautiful! You are a joy to follow!
Take care!
~Lynne
[w/L]
I have to prune my bay tree soon – it has grown too tall so I am going to have an abundance of bay leaves. This is what I am going to do with the leaves – maybe make some kitchen wreathes too as I have more than enough leaves. If you were my neighbour you could and help yourself to as many bay leaves as you wanted and I wouldn’t complain about your chickens either!
Ang… when bundling the fresh herbs, how do you keep them from getting mildewy till they are totally dry. All I can think of is hanging them upside down someplace dry, like near the stove. Then where would you store them once dried? I am thinking a paper bag?
Love the idea Angie…get’s my little farm brain whirling of creative ideas…..for our market store :). French chervil is easy to grow….it’s a lovely anise-y flavor.
xoxo lylah
I’d love to smell one right now!! It’d probably help to wake me up… 😉
I am new to your blog and I am so glad I found it. I love it and look forward to reading it. Your pictures are gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing. Bouquet Garni’s are wonderful to use in soups, stews and sauces. I love both of your receipes. That must be heaven to have so many herbs. With our heat and sun Rosemary is my surviver. I need to harvest earlier in the year when the Basil and Parsley is still good. I love your blog. I will check them out on your shop. Thanks Kathy
Hi Angela!
How are you?
I have just prepared my BG and I would like to know if you have a special way, a secret, to dry them properly.
Thank you,
finger crossed for you!
Fra