How to Use Rosemary

In the middle ages, people believed rosemary was a source of protection against evil spirits. Placing it under a pillow at night was thought to prevent nightmares. It has also been thought of as a symbol of friendship and love, and sprigs of rosemary were worn at weddings. In modern times we have come up with some more practical uses of rosemary, such as in cooking.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Add rosemary to roasted meat--in particular poultry, fish, pork and veal--to add a sweet yet pungent flavor. Rosemary also goes well sprinkled on pork chops or chicken breasts before they are placed on the grill.

2. Enhance the flavor of anything sweet with rosemary. Rosemary brings out the sweetness of tomato and fruit salads and therefore a good substitute for sugar. Rosemary also adds a robust flavor to mild-flavored dishes such as potato soup or mild vegetables.

3. Combine rosemary in cooking with herbs it compliments such as chives, bay, thyme and parsley.

4. Use rosemary stems as skewers for grilling shishkabobs. Strip the leaves off of the stem and slide on foods complimented by rosemary such as chicken, pork, squash, tomatoes and eggplant. The shishkabobs will have a strong rosemary flavor.

5. Make an herbal butter with rosemary. Soften a half cup of butter and combine in 2 teaspoons of rosemary. Add the butter to baked potatoes or to meats such as fish and poultry.

Tips & Warnings

• Preserve rosemary by storing it whole in the freezer. Then, when you need some, remove a stem and run your fingers down it. The leaves fall right off. Rosemary is better preserved frozen than dried.