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| Fresh Thyme drying in the kitchen. |
Just a quickie today but I felt after such a long absence I should post something and I haven't had time to do the cooking I wanted so today it's quite simply how I dry my herbs!!
I have tried in the past stringing them up in the rafters of the shed but this never worked very well as they would get knocked about by peoples heads and if we had a few damp days then drying just didn't occur and in the end I would end up with herbs going black and becoming unusable.
So now I just cut some off....bind round the stems with string and hang under a shelf in the kitchen. The kitchen has a lovely aroma whilst they are drying and they are always on hand when i want them for my cooking.
I have fresh herb patches both in the garden at home and also at the allotment but with the rains we have been having lately I decided to get some cut and indoors rather than getting a soaking...however i only normally dry them over the winter period when I know growth is going to die back until the following spring.
I also dry my chillis just like this but actually thread their stems onto a piece of cotton using a needle.
Not as tasty as fresh cut herbs but so much nicer than those bought in a jar in the shops...and a lot cheaper too!!
I didn't do a forecast this past week but to be honest there wasn't much to write...RAIN about sums it up for us and we have flood warnings EVERYWHERE in our County...this is certainly the wettest drought I have ever encountered...they keep telling us that the hosepipe ban is still enforced...but seriously who is going to be outside using one anyway!!
I haven't really done any serious drying of herbs yet - have you ever frozen any?
ReplyDeleteNo I haven't frozen any yet Sue but it's something I am hoping to try pout this year ...I feel a comparison post coming in the future..lol
DeleteI've just bought a load of herbs, so this is a timely post for me. I don't generally use many herbs in cooking but I might do now that I've got some in the garden.
ReplyDeleteHerbs are great for giving that bit of extra something to your cooking Jo...I'm sure once you start using them you will always be adding a bit of something!!
DeleteI can just imagine how wonderful your kitchen must smell.
ReplyDeleteIt does smell great whilst they are drying...once dried though there is no smell until you add them to your cooking.
DeleteI love dried herbs! Great idea to hang them in the kitchen. I used to have a friend who dried all kinds of herbs and made her own mixture of tea out of dried currant leaves, marigold pedals and spices that I don't know the English names for. But I don't remember where she hanged it all to dry!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, thanks for visiting my Saturday Centus post! You are First Commenter and get an extra link back here!
Best wishes & hugs,
Anna
I think it's great to make your own herbal teas...very simple and so much cheaper than buying in the store...plus you can add exactly what you want!
DeleteI tried drying me herbs..I ended up making a mess! I have been freezing them and that has been working better for me...
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried freezing them yet but will be having a go at that this year too.
DeleteWhatever works for the individual is great!!
I've only ever tried drying herbs once. My dad told me to dry some out in the garage about a month before he died. After he was gone somebody took them down, so I never got to finish the job. I don't even remember exactly what it was anymore.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should give it another go Ratty....it's easy and your Dad obviously knew what he was doing.
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