From Booklist
Pesto, paella, salsa, bruschetta: contemporary cuisine is an international tour de force of enduring and exotic dishes that rely on fresh herbs to add zest and enhance flavors. This latest handbook in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's 21st-century Gardening series focuses on both traditional and trendy herbs that are energizing today's cosmopolitan cooking. From North Africa to South America, this global tour of gourmet herbs and spices is seasoned with savory recipes and sage advice. Chapters devoted to container gardening and garden design show how to grow herbs in pots and knots. Other sections advise on methods of herbal propagation and preservation, complete with instructions for preparing herbal vinegars, butters, and infusions. More than 40 of the most popular and more unusual herbs are comprehensively cataloged, providing pertinent information on their cultural requirements and culinary uses. Don that chef's apron, pull on those gardening gloves, and get ready to harvest a wealth of herbal information that will spice up the kitchen and beautify the garden. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
Written by acclaimed herb experts, this handsome and fact-packed compendium is a don't-miss for both gardeners and cooks. Not only does it feature the classic culinary herbs, but also the up-and-coming and hard-to-obtain varieties at the heart of the new international cuisine. From epazote (used in Mexican and Southwestern entrees), to fenugreek (an essential in Middle Eastern dishes), these plants go beyond the purely ornamental to bring you fresh, exciting tastes and aromas. Assure yourself of having a plentiful supply by following the tips on starting herbs from seed, growing them in containers, and preserving them for year-round use. Design a garden that looks beautiful, with contour and contrast, and that has an irresistible mixture of color and scent. A huge illustrated encyclopedia of gourmet herbs provides cultivating and cooking guidance, and recipes for scrumptious meals--like bruschetta, arroz verde, and Asian sate--will keep you harvesting and enlarging your herbal stock!
About the Author
Beth Hanson was the managing editor of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's 21st-Century Gardening series, the editor of Easy Compost and Chile Peppers, and a contributor to The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Gardener's Desk Reference. She lives in Tarrytown, New York.
