Cooking fish with herbs is as simple as putting the fish on a piece of aluminum foil and crimping the edges, then adding some olive oil, white wine, a few slices of lemon, crushed tomatoes, onions, garlic, and the herbs you choose. Fully crimp the foil and let it cook for around 10-15 minutes. Check at about 10 minutes.

Come into Orchard today and pick up some herbs! The list above is what we have in stock sometime during the year.

Many of the beautiful ornamentals in your garden can also make for tasty snacks! Edible flowers are a great way to add unique colors and flavors to spring and summer dishes. Impress your friends and family with beautiful floral additions to your meals. When using edible flowers, be sure they have not been sprayed with any toxic chemicals. Also, when trying any new food for the first time, try just a little at first to be sure you don’t have any adverse reactions.

Daylilies (Hemorocallis sp.)

Daylilies are one of my absolute favorite edibles. Their petals are slightly sweet and crunchy and would make a great addition to salads. You can also use them as a substitute for squash blossoms and stuff them. Several traditional Chinese dishes call for daylily buds. Dried daylily buds are called “golden needles” in many Chinese recipes. Remember that daylilies do live up to their name (the flowers only last about a day) so if you’re using them fresh, don’t plan on having leftovers!

Nasturtium

These peppery spicy flowers are a refreshing snack and a great way to add some pep and color to your salads. The leaves are also edible but are a lot spicier than the petals! Try mixing assorted greens such as romaine, radicchio, spinach and arugula with a handful of nasturtium blooms topped with your favorite dressing.

Sweet Violets (Viola odorata)

Although all Viola species have edible flowers (including pansies and violets), sweet violet is by far my favorite. These bloom profusely in the early spring and the sweet scented blossoms can be smelled from a block away on a hot day. They make a great companion to fruits and nuts in salads and make a beautiful garnish on sweets. Violet syrup, violet jelly, and violet vinegar are some other interesting ways to enjoy this plant’s intoxicating scent.

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)

All Dianthus have edible flowers, including carnations, but Sweet William is one of the most fragrant. The petals have a complex, spicy, clove-like taste and can be used to prepare sorbets and other sweets. I’ve found that each color of Dianthus has a slightly different taste. See if you can find the best tasting color in your yard!

These are just a few of my favorites. For a more comprehensive list of edible garden flowers, see this link: http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/blflowers.htm?terms=edible+flowers