Keep Herbs Fresh and Salvage Ones You Can't Use

Fresh herbs are bountiful in the summer and often when I purchase them I don't use the large bunches quickly enough before they start to wilt. One way to extend the shelf life of leafy herbs such as cilantro and parsley is to wash them and spin them dry and then place them with their stems immersed in a glass of fresh water in the fridge. I sometimes cover them very loosely with a clear plastic bag to protect them just a bit (but so they can still breathe). I pull out the stems as I need them and change the water frequently.


For unused herbs such as oregano, thyme and rosemary, tie them into small bunches and hang them upside down in a dry, air-circulated place away from direct sunlight. Air-dry them until they are crisp and crackly to the touch. Store in airtight-labeled jars or bags in a cool, dark, and dry place. Don't crush the leaves until you are ready to use them. There is a huge difference in the flavor and smell of these dried herbs versus some of the flavorless ones you can get at the store.


Herbs that require cooking to extract their flavors are: thyme, bay leaves, rosemary, and sage.

Herbs that are best used at the end of cooking (because they are so delicate and will quickly breakdown/discolor) are: basil, chives, parsley, chervil, and cilantro.

Tagged as: [ fresh herbs storing tips ]

Did I Get Good Coffee Beans?

If you're an avid coffee drinker, buying coffee beans in bulk and grinding them yourself can save you a lot of money, but what do you look for when buying them? On a coffee tour in the mountain village of Boquete in Panama we learned you can tell the premium beans simply by the consistent size, shape, and color. Beans that are properly sorted will roast more evenly.

This morning we got a first hand look at beans not properly sorted. Some might even be termed "floaters" which describes diseased beans that rise to the top in the first sorting stage. In this stage, beans are immersed in water and bad or unripe fruit will float and the good ripe fruit will sink. Ever wonder what kind of bean makes it into Maxwell House?

What do premium beans look like? Here's a photo from our coffe tour demonstrating the difference sorting can make to the eventual outcome in roasting. The beans on the bottom have been properly sorted by size and weight which results in an even roast.

Tagged as: [ beans coffee tips ]

Garlic Germ

Did you know? If you suffer from indigestion due to garlic, try peeling out the germ (click on the photo to see the note). Some people say this prevents it. When choosing garlic, try to find tight heads and avoid older ones that have the germ sprouting from the top of the head.

Tagged as: [ food garlic tips ]