Nonno's Vegetable Garden - #2: Herbs

Let's continue our journey into my late father's vegetable garden...

Today, let's focus on the herbs!

Here is some of the variegated lemon mint growing in the cinder blocks that delineate the garden...

Italian oregano "in bloom"--although the leaves should be picked before the flowers emerge. We will eventually let the leaves dry out to create our stash of oregano for pizzas and other delicious meals for the year to come...

Did I mention that in Ancient Greece and Italy, oregano was considered a symbol of happiness?

Gorgeous, unique, flavourful--these purple peppers are a real beauty! We've grown them in a pot.

A more traditional type of hot pepper. Give them one more month, and these green loves will become spicy red!

Rosemary--perfect accompaniment to lamb, veal roasted chicken... but the Ancient Greeks had a different approach. They wore it round their heads for the stimulation of their memory!

Ah, basil... the perfect partner in marriage to olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, cheese, et cetera, et cetera... not to mention, the key ingredient in Genovese pesto! This basil plant is growing in a pot, but a good tenth of my father's garden is dedicated to this aromatic, strong-willed herb!

"Tu sei come il prezzemolo!" an Italian might tell you. This literally means, "You are like parsley"--i.e. you are everywhere! That is because Italian cuisine, like its French counterpart, sprinkles this grassy, lovely herb on the vast majority of dishes! We use it for soups, stews, pasta sauces, meat dishes, et cetera. Ate too much garlic and have a hot date tonight? Worry not--munch on a swig of parsley to help counteract bad breath!

This is still parsley, ready to make its seeds for the next season...

Sage with eggs. Sage with chicken. Sage with lamb. But NOTHING pairs with sage like warm butter. What's for dinner tonight? Fresh ricotta gnocchi with a sage-infused butter sauce....nothing short of divine!

I've added this last one not even knowing what it is. Could you help me in identifying it? It may not even be an herb! Let me know if you know!

Hope you enjoyed this second part of the journey into Nonno's vegetable garden!
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