Fresh oregano leaves - By Amy Jeanroy Herb Gardens Expert
Overview: Possibly one of the most recognized herbs in the cook's garden, oregano is easy to grow and adds plenty of taste either fresh or dried, to foods.
USDA Hardiness Zone: Zone 5-9
Exposure: Full sun, well drained soil. Oregano will do well in partial shade.
Harvest: Cut aerial parts to encourage a bushy habit. Oregano dries very well and remains flavorful. Excellent potted herb for a windowsill garden.
Uses: Oregano is a satisfying herb for any gardener. It is easy to grow and care for, as long as it does not remain wet for too long. Oregano grows very well in partial sun, making it a good choice for an indoor windowsill garden.
Oregano is also a well loved cooking herb. It is used in Italian cooking and known by most children as the pizza herb. Use it in any tomato based dish with great success.
To dry, strip oregano leaves from the stem and lay on paper towel, out of direct sunlight. Store in an airtight container and enjoy throughout the winter season.
With the recipes I share can you tell what I like to make is bread. I am working on lots of bookwork but as soon as I am caught up with that I will start making bread. Usually in November and December I will go thru 50 lbs of flour. I have lots of new recipes to try.
Bread Machine Oregano and Romano Cheese Bread
Verla's bread machine herb bread is super easy to prepare, and it is the perfect bread for a spaghetti or lasagna meal. You might want to bake this bread just for the wonderful aroma!
I've made the bread with Parmesan cheese and basil instead of oregano, and it was amazing.
See the tips below the recipe for instructions for making a free form loaf for the oven.
Ingredients
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Add the ingredients to your bread machine following the manufacturer's instructions. Set on basic or medium, and press start. Enjoy the fabulous aroma!
The recipe makes one 1 1/2-pound loaf of bread.
Free Form Loaf for the Oven - Prepare the bread in the bread machine using the dough cycle. Remove the dough from the machine and shape into a round loaf. Place the loaf on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and cover with a damp kitchen towel.
Let it rise until doubled, about 40 to 50 minutes.
Bake in a preheated 400 F oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Taken from http://herbgardens.about.com/od/herbrecipes/tp/Top-5-Herbs-For-Holiday-Cooking.htm
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa