Italian cuisine happens to be my all-time favorite! As a matter of fact I love it so much that I decided to plant my very own Italian herb garden right in my own kitchen. That way, each time I whipped up any of my delightful recipes all I needed to do was stroll over to my windowsill planter and snip off a couple buds of garlic, basil, parsley, rosemary, sage or oregano.
These are but a few of the herbs essential to that specific taste of exquisite Italian cuisine. These flavors vary quite naturally from region to region of the Italian countryside so it is a matter of the cook ascertaining which herbs will be used the heaviest to provide the most unique flavor.
I found Italian herbs to be extremely hearty. They grow very well all year round. Most of my herbs I grow indoors. The few I placed in outdoor pots I bring inside during winter when the temperature is a little chillier. I adopted this method from herb gardeners who live in a villa in the Italian countryside.
Each time as I gather my fresh herbs for my night’s meal the delicious smell of Italian delights fills my kitchen. My mouth waters in anticipation of the taste that only Italian herbs can supply.
As a matter of fact when my daughter left home to attend college she’d grown so accustomed to enjoying meals with fresh herbs that I bought her an Italian herb growing windowsill kit that came with premium seeds of the trinity of Italian cuisine (chives, basil and oregano), three ceramic glazed pots and a tray with soil and illustrated instructions. The kit even included a lovely story card educating her on those particular herbs and how best to care for them.
From Venice to Tuscany the variety of herbs by region is astounding. The most common herbs for Italian cooking are of course garlic, parsley, rosemary, basil and oregano. Most modern kitchens have these dried herbs in jars, ready for the light sprinkle when needed. But trust me the difference between these and freshly snipped herbs is like night and day when it comes to their impact on the taste of food.
Right on their heels you’ll find fennel, marjoram, chives, sage and bay leaves. These as well may be found in most kitchens. You might even find fresh cut versions in your local supermarket.
Not only is your very own Italian herb garden ideal for flavoring your favorite recipe, you can also add interest to your cucina (Italian for “kitchen”) by drying bundles of herbs and hanging them upside down just as you see in Italian restaurants. They make interesting decorations on your walls and doorways.
Just think of the possibilities of transforming your kitchen into a facsimile of an authentic Italian kitchen. Most certainly the aromas of your meals with the addition of freshly harvested Italian herbs will transport you each and every time to the sensual land of Italia.
Many villas sport an herb garden section as an essential part of their kitchen plant beds. What better way to celebrate fine living and fine food with then with the addition freshly grown, harvested and visual displays Italian herbs.