More ways to use fresh herbs

Many recipes call for fresh herbs which do add wonderful flavors to the foods we cook, but do you ever find that you bought a "bunch" or a package of some fresh herb when you only needed a small amount?  Do you hold on to it with the idea in mind that you will use it somewhere else, but then you don't know what to do with it? 

Here are a couple of very quick and easy ways to enjoy the fresh herbs weeks or even months later!

Compound Butter!

Compound butters can be made at home and you probably have all the ingredients on hand!  You simply whip together real unsalted butter with herbs, spices or aromatic liquids using a stand mixer or hand held mixer.  Then form it into a cylinder shape, wrap in plastic wrap or parchment paper, and chill until it is firm enough to be sliced. These butters can be melted on top of meats and vegetables, used as a spread or used to finish various sauces. You can also store this well wrapped in the freezer for a few months.

Try fresh garlic, parsley, butter and salt for your own garlic spread.   You can make it more spreadable (and delicious) by incorporating some olive oil or cream cheese!

Pesto!

Always a classic but even more delicious when you make it at home!  I blogged a How-to on making pesto in late September.  Again, incredibly more delicious than store bought,  and it can be stored for months in the freezer.

Seasoned Salt!

Salt is a natural preservative!  It's been the way to preserve fish and meats before the invention of the refrigerator!  It's also great to make your own seasoned salt using fresh herbs, garlic, citrus zest, etc.  All you need beyond the ingredients is a good knife and some time to work these ingredients together! 

Use on meats, vegetables, your breakfast cereal.  Okay, maybe not that last one....

The seasoned salts you buy in the store can be made right at home, and as with anything else that is homemade, it will be even more delicious!  Try it and see for yourself!