Chrissi B! almost a green thumb?

Wandering through the market the other day, when Cutest Hubby and I noticed a lovely display of fresh potted herbs. The basil was particularly pretty. One quick whiff and she was ours. Lovely basil, ready to use for salads, sauces and garnish ....With just a quick snip of the sheers, we are gourmet! All I can say is ....Food Network, get ready for me!

Although Cutest Hubby is from a farming family, and has quite a green thumb, he has never grown anything as small as herbs. Our " window sill baby" is quite small, but a good test to check out our herb growing skills, or lack there of.

Once we arrived home, with Bella in hand ( I call her Bella as she is quite pretty and Italian of course), I quickly placed her in our sunny kitchen window. I then ran upstairs to "google" her. I needed to know more about my new found friend, and just how I can help her flower and grow in my little kitchen window.

I found several helpful sites offering gardening tips for growing basil indoors. Recipes included this cool temp teaser of Fresh Tomato and Basil Lasagna, (worth a try for a Sunday dinner), and a simple salad find of tomatoes and basil.

As Bella is still quite young and has not a lot to offer, I snipped a few leaves and added them to a garden salad. It was perfect! As she blooms and grows, I hope to add her several dishes. I find her just sitting in my kitchen a bit of inspiration to my humble cooking.

As we move towards the cooler temps, perhaps choosing a few indoor herbs to offer comfort and encouragement in your own meal preparation is an answer. This could be a nice project to do with your small children. If your interest blooms, consider an Aero Garden. These self contained wonders are everywhere and offer great rewards for such a small bit of space. ....enjoy!

I couldn't help but share this find for a *Lemony Sage and Basil Cookie:

*(from the wonderful cookie madness)

1 cup sugar, divided usage

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powderDash of salt (I used a big dash)

8 ounces unsalted butter,

softened3-ounce package cream cheese,

softened1 egg, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons grated fresh lemon zest

Additional granulated sugar

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar1

1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Optional Garnish – julienne basil or sage leaves or strips of lemon zest
Process

1/4 cup of the sugar, basil and sage in a food processor until very well blended; reserve.
Mix together flour, baking powder and salt; reserve.
Beat butter and cream cheese. Add remaining 3/4 cup sugar and continue beating until fluffy. Add egg, lemon juice and zest; gradually add flour and basil/sugar mixtures. Chill dough for 1 hour. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Flatten with the bottom of a glass dipped in granulated sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees for 9 to 12 minutes, or until set. Remove to wire racks for cooling.
Whisk together glaze ingredients; spread over cooled cookies. Garnish with basil, sage or lemon zest.