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Culinary herbs are basically plants that are edible. The aromatic properties of the herb can be used to add flavour and depth to food and drinks. Sometimes people confuse culinary herbs with spices. Spices are usually powdered substances produced from the grinding of seeds, roots, bark, fruit and sometimes the flowers or flower parts e.g. cardamom (seeds), cinnamon (bark), and saffron (the stamens of the flowers). Herbs are usually the leaves and may be used fresh or dried.

This eBook goes into detail in how you can use, store and process culinary herbs. In addition to using culinary herbs for cooking, this eBook has lots of ideas of things you can create with herbs.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

What are culinary herbs?
Plant parts used as culinary herbs
Brief history of culinary herbs
Fresh herbs
Storing fresh herbs
Cooking with fresh herbs
Dried herbs
How to dry herbs
Other preserving methods
Sugars, vinegars & salts
Freezing
Lifting and keeping herbs over winter 

CHAPTER 2 HERB CHEMISTRY AND NUTRITION
Chemistry of herbs
The nutritional value of herbs

CHAPTER 3 SPICES
Processing, storing and using spices
What are spices?
Processing plants to make spices
Storing spices
Using & assessing spices 
Growing plants for spices
Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum)
Coriander/cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)
Other spices to grow at home
Some culinary uses for spices
Marinating meat
Gingersnaps
Homemade curry powder

CHAPTER 4 A CLOSER LOOK AT GARLIC AND GINGER
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Growing garlic
Using garlic
Medicinal properties
Garlic bread
Garlic leaf butter
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Growing ginger
Using ginger
Medicinal properties
Crystallised ginger

CHAPTER 5 MUSTARDS
What is mustard?
Types of mustard plant
Growing mustard seed
Making mustards
Types of mustards
How to use mustards
Basic mustard
Hot English mustard
Eggs in mustard sauce

CHAPTER 6 MEDICINAL USES OF CULINARY HERBS
Medicinal herbs
How to make a herbal decoction
How to make a herbal ointment
Medicinal uses
Cautionary notes
Using medicinal herbs
Herbal medicine – a glossary of terms
Herbs for minor complaints

CHAPTER 7 HERBAL TEAS
The benefits of herbal tea
Growing tea herbs
Popular plants for herbal tea
How to make a herbal tea
Popular herbal teas
Herbal tea ingredients and their benefits

CHAPTER 8 OTHER USES FOR CULINARY HERBS
Garden benefits of herbs
Pollinator herbs
Insect repellents
Herbal repellents
Herbal pest control
Herbal decoys
Herbs for pets and your wardrobe
Insect repellent herbal oil
Insect repellent herb cream
Herbal bench top spray
Herbal sachets
Pest control for pot plants
Washing with herbal oils
Herb vinegars
Garlic vinegar
Italian herb vinegar
Herb oils
Herb oil with leaves
Herb cheeses
Herb salt
Homemade herb salt
Herb honey
Homemade herb honey
Herb confectionary
Herb biscuits
Using herbs with fruit
Easy recipes
Baked red cabbage
Fast mint sauce
Dandelion coffee
Mint pasty
Herb dip
Bbq marinade
Corn soup
Stevia liquid essence and syrup
Herb breads
Herb and garlic bread sticks
Thyme and pumpkin damper
Scandinavian-style crispbread
Savoury luncheon twist
Herb butters
Maître d’hôtel butter
Green butter
Chive butter
Zesty butter
Lemon parsley butter
Gargles
Ginger and lemon gargle
Herb and spice gargle
Rosemary, clove and ginger gargle

CHAPTER 9 HERB CRAFTS
Herb dyes
Hair rinses
Herb scented stationary
Pressing herbs
Ways to press herbs
Herbal fragrances
Potpourri
Herbs for potpourris
Herb baths
Herbal aftershave

CHAPTER 10 LAVENDER CRAFTS
Everyday items
Lavender bath elixir
Lavender herbal massage oil
Lavender sachets
Scented clothes hangers
Lavender candles
Dried flowers
Preserving dried flowers

CHAPTER 11 THE KITCHEN GARDEN
Growing herbs
Growing herbs in containers
Caring for herbs in containers 
Choosing the right container
Potting mixes
Maintenance 
Herbs for pots 
Herbs as indoor plants
How to grow herbs indoors
Herbs suitable for growing indoors
Hydroponic herbs
Natural pest control
Directory of herbs
Further reading and study 
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