My Five Favorite Herbs . . .

I was asked to do a program yesterday on herbs

for our Pioneer Kiwanis

When I give a program, I always come with treats . . .

Orange rosemary cupcakes

(for it is a luncheon meeting and everyone needs dessert)

The recipe?

Just a regular cupcake that I make all the time (which makes an even dozen cupcakes)

with a tablespoon of chopped rosemary added as well as the grated peel of one orange.   Frosted with a buttercream to which I added the grated peel of another orange and enough orange juice to make the icing spreadable.

(You could even make them with a box mix -- adding the rosemary and orange zest to the batter and then adding orange zest to the canned frosting)

I always like to bring "show and tell" when I give a program

Herbs (to be planted in the garden)

Some gardening books (my favorite is the Betty Crocker Kitchen Gardens -- it is my herbal bible)

and a couple of herbal cookbooks (these by Nicole Richardson -- a cookbook author I adore (she's right up there with Anna Pump and Ina Garten and her basil ice cream with chocolate sauce --

pure nirvana)

I have a hard time talking about just five herbs

But, if I had to have only five . . . these would be my choice:

Rosemary

Thyme

Basil

Chives

Sage

But then, I can't imagine living without parsley, garlic chives, lavender, bay, fennel, tarragon

(sigh)

It was a fun meeting and I always love to share my love and knowledge of herbs!