Spring Fever
Every Spring I look forward to planting a backyard garden and while the tomatoes and peppers tend to steal the show, for me it's really the supporting characters that bring my summer meals to life. I'm talking about herbs. Those oft overlooked, seemingly background players that are incredibly aromatic and flavorful and can change potatoes into roasted rosemary potatoes, make silver rum into a mojito or create a savory pesto sauce for an heirloom tomato bruschetta.
I come from a culture where herbs are used in most every dish and are sometimes the star of the dish. My mother has always planted a variety of herbs and would harvest them to cook with daily. I can still smell the bright, sweet smell of fresh mint and the clean, fresh smell of chopped parsley as she worked. We often had such abundant plants that she would cut and dry the herbs in the sun and save them to cook with when harvesting fresh herbs wasn't an option - nothing went to waste!
One of the many perks of living in Houston is the warm weather and the ability to plant and harvest fruits, vegetables and herbs almost year round. My wife and I love planting basil, cilantro, dill, oregano, mint and so many others! Now that we have a daughter, we can't wait for her to garden with us. She loves helping dig in the dirt to plant things and then getting to water the plants and watching them grow. She picks leaves off the herbs and eats them fresh and it's fun to watch her enjoy gardening as much as we do.
One of the first dishes we make in the Spring is this Avocado + Strawberry Caprese Salad. Right now in Houston it's strawberry and basil season and this salad is so fresh and delicious. It can be eaten as a side or even a main dish and is so satisfying on a warm Houston day.
If you don't have a backyard garden, you can always grow herbs in a sunny window or stop by one of the many Houston farmer's markets to pick up large bundles.
If you live in West Houston, be sure to check out one of the markets:
Memorial Villages Farmers Market
10840 Beinhorn Rd
Saturdays 9am-1pm
Westchase District Farmers Market
10503 Westheimer Rd
Thursdays 3pm-7pm
Interested in berry picking? Check out one of these berry farms while strawberries are still in season.
Atkinson Farms - Spring, TX
Blessington Farms - Simonton, TX
Frobergs Farm - Alvin, TX