Читать книгу 365 Simple Pleasures - Susannah Seton - Страница 81

When it’s gray and dreary outside, I like to plant an indoor kitchen garden in a sunny window. One of my favorites is a lemon herb garden, because it lends such a tart fragrance to the room. You can either put plants in one long container or use a variety of small pots. Choose from lemon basil, lemon verbena, lemon thyme, lemon balm, lemon geranium, and lemongrass to fill the air with the delicious, tangy scent of citrus. Treat these plants to plenty of sun and well-drained soil. Be sure to pick the blooms off of lemon verbena and lemon basil. The more you pick and use these herbs, the more prolific the plants will be. Consider mixing in a yellow flowering plant to visually highlight the lemon fragrance. What to do with all this lemon flavor? Try making lemon honey: Coarsely chop ½ cup lemon balm or lemon verbena and place in a saucepan with 1 cup honey. Over low heat, cook for 20 minutes, then strain out herbs and store honey in a container with a tight lid. Or make lemon butter: Soften ½ cup butter and mix in 2 tablespoons of finely chopped lemon basil or lemon thyme. Great for seafood and pasta.