Frozen Herbs
Don’t let your herbs get stuck in the snow
Enjoy fresh herbs all year long
I never had a green thumb. I truly mean that. I would forget to water plants, leave them in poorly lit spaces, and never put them in fresh soil. I was the worst plant parent. Then I realized to cook like mom, I needed fresh herbs. So, I invested my time in taking care of my plants.
Last summer, I put effort and grabbed 3 herbs that I knew I would use in many dishes. Wait, let me be truthful, they were the only herbs I knew what to do with once they grew! So I grew rosemary, Italian parsley, and basil. I repotted them, placed them on the north side of my house because I knew they would get the best share of shade and sun, and watered them every morning. At first, I thought this was going to be a waste that I would never remember them but then after 2 weeks of actively staying present in their plant life, they grew! Then they grew some more. And more! Before I knew it, I had to trim the parsley and basil so it had room to grow more. This past summer, my dad helped me create a little herb garden in our backyard - the perfect area with the right amount of shade and sun.
It’s amazing how something so simple can bring out amazing traditions you never knew about! Have conversations with your loved ones! You will be amazed at what you find out.
After a while of them growing and me trimming them, I got to wondering what the heck was I to do with all these herbs? I mean, I could keep adding them to dishes and drying them, but I knew there had to be something else I could do. So I used a lifeline and called Mom. What she advised me to do blew my mind - freeze the basil! “Mom, that sounds difficult and like something I would mess up!!” I feel like timing in life is everything as my mom was in the process of doing the same when I called. From our talk, she told me my Nonna used to do this every season. Nonna would wash them, ever so gently pat them dry, then lay them, folding them individually within an aluminum foil and placing them in the freeze. Whenever she cooked and needed fresh basil, she would take them out of the freezer and put them into whatever she was cooking. Frozen basil thaws quickly and tastes just as fresh as when they are first picked! What a lifesaver this has been this winter season!
It took one summer of trying this and I am now hooked! Seeing as how we are hosting the holidays this year, I thought I will need extra fresh herbs. So I now trim mine once a month and freeze them. - Texas sun is wonderful! I freeze basil and parsley but you can freeze any fresh herbs.
Give this a try and let me know what herbs you are trying!
Salute!
Here’s what to do:
Pick the leaves off your herbs plant.
Gently rinse them under cold water. If they are coated in dirt, let them sit in water for a few minutes to help soften the dirt so it’ll fall off.
Gently pat them dry. I use a salad spinner to help get the excess water off.
You don’t want too much water sitting on your leaves when you put them in the freezer as it will weigh them down which can damage them and create freezer-burn.
You don’t need to get them super dry, just not soaking wet.
Place them gently and loosely in a freezer-safe container.
I use any plastic containers with a good seal I have around that I won’t be needing anytime soon.
Put in freezer.
