Totally Tubular
1 TBSP fresh basil, chopped.
2 TSP fresh chives, snipped
2 TBSP fresh parsley, sprinkled.
To you these may seem like ingredients, but to me they are tiny, little fragrant banes of my existence.
Where exactly can you go to buy one tablespoon of fresh basil? Because where I shop, you have to buy a good sized box of it, if not a PLANT. And then what should I do with the leftovers? Make pesto? I have frozen pesto coming out of my ears. And what about the parsley? I buy a bunch as big as my head, use a small handful and then bag it and throw it in the crisper saying to myself each time "I'll use that again. Sure. I swear".
I really wish there was some kind of huge herb garden at local supermarkets were you could walk in, snip what you need and pay by the tablespoon.
I know you can use dried but sometimes it really makes a difference in taste whether you use fresh or dried. I love working with fresh herbs, I just hate the amount of waste it creates.
So in my quest to solve this dilemma, I came across Gourmet Garden's line of HERBS IN A TUBE.
I have to tell you, foodstuffs in a tube have really come through for me at tough times. Tomato paste in a tube saved me from a life of trying to preserve the 4 oz left in a 6 oz can of tomato paste after I use what I needed for tomato sauce. Have you ever seen tomato paste after it has been left forgotten and unsealed in a fridge for a month?
It turns a lovely shade of fuzzy black.
But I digress.
These HERBS IN A TUBE are actually fresh herbs so you can only keep one tube for ninety days but you know, that is longer than I can keep a handful of fresh basil so that was a-ok with me. So I picked up a tube of the basil and for kicks a tube of the chopped garlic because 1) I hate chopping garlic and 2) Chopped garlic in a jar is ok, but not a proper substitute.
So I tried these a few times over the past week - putting the basil into chicken roulades, cooking the garlic in olive oil for pasta and you know what. It is fabulous!! Really flavorful (much much more so than dried) and so much easier to use than regular old fresh herbs. And you can just use what you need, pop the cap back on and throw it in the fridge and it will be there ready to use the next time you need it!
I know somewhere Ina Garten is shuddering, but it's true. HERBS IN A TUBE are the bomb.
They have them in the produce department in most grocery stores so next time you see them check one out. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Now if I could just find key limes in a tube. I only needed two of those effers and they only come in bags of like twenty.
2 TSP fresh chives, snipped
2 TBSP fresh parsley, sprinkled.
To you these may seem like ingredients, but to me they are tiny, little fragrant banes of my existence.
Where exactly can you go to buy one tablespoon of fresh basil? Because where I shop, you have to buy a good sized box of it, if not a PLANT. And then what should I do with the leftovers? Make pesto? I have frozen pesto coming out of my ears. And what about the parsley? I buy a bunch as big as my head, use a small handful and then bag it and throw it in the crisper saying to myself each time "I'll use that again. Sure. I swear".
I really wish there was some kind of huge herb garden at local supermarkets were you could walk in, snip what you need and pay by the tablespoon.
I know you can use dried but sometimes it really makes a difference in taste whether you use fresh or dried. I love working with fresh herbs, I just hate the amount of waste it creates.
So in my quest to solve this dilemma, I came across Gourmet Garden's line of HERBS IN A TUBE.
I have to tell you, foodstuffs in a tube have really come through for me at tough times. Tomato paste in a tube saved me from a life of trying to preserve the 4 oz left in a 6 oz can of tomato paste after I use what I needed for tomato sauce. Have you ever seen tomato paste after it has been left forgotten and unsealed in a fridge for a month?
It turns a lovely shade of fuzzy black.
But I digress.
These HERBS IN A TUBE are actually fresh herbs so you can only keep one tube for ninety days but you know, that is longer than I can keep a handful of fresh basil so that was a-ok with me. So I picked up a tube of the basil and for kicks a tube of the chopped garlic because 1) I hate chopping garlic and 2) Chopped garlic in a jar is ok, but not a proper substitute.
So I tried these a few times over the past week - putting the basil into chicken roulades, cooking the garlic in olive oil for pasta and you know what. It is fabulous!! Really flavorful (much much more so than dried) and so much easier to use than regular old fresh herbs. And you can just use what you need, pop the cap back on and throw it in the fridge and it will be there ready to use the next time you need it!
I know somewhere Ina Garten is shuddering, but it's true. HERBS IN A TUBE are the bomb.
They have them in the produce department in most grocery stores so next time you see them check one out. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Now if I could just find key limes in a tube. I only needed two of those effers and they only come in bags of like twenty.
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18 comments:
I discovered those a while back while shopping at a grocery store that's not my usual and they are the bomb, no? I've tried many of them and the only one I wouldn't use again is the cilantro. It's worth it to buy the fresh - but all of the others I couldn't tell the difference AT ALL!
sweet I am really glad to hear the other ones are good!
Nice find, Sarah! I'm definitely going to try those! I, too hate buying a huge bunch of herbs for one recipe, only to end up throwing most of it away.
I've also seen little ice cubes of herbs in the freezer section.
But my solution is to just have a windowsill herb garden. I've got just basil now but I am going get some more. The great thing about it is that the more you pinch off them, the better they grow. It's a perfect solution if you got a bit of a green thumb.
I wish I could do that! I live in an apartment and the way our windows are placed there is no way to do a windowsill garden. I tried to do one in the kitchen but there is so little natural light they died pretty much immediately. Some day though, I plan on having a kick@ss herb garden!
I love the tube herbs. They are so much better than dried, but just as easy. And with staples like garlic or basil, I have no trouble using them up in under 90 days.
I'm madly in love with tomato paste in a tube...I'll have to give the herbs a go.
What an awesome find. I am now going to search for them in my local grocery stores. Thanks :)
What about price? If those tubes are expensive it would be better to get a small bunch and toss most of it rather than add another plastic tube to a landfill.
Holy f*** I've been too close to Cambridge too long...
well my hippie friend, i didn't check but what if the tubes are recyclable!? and they cost about $4 a pop which is less than what i was spending on buying the fresh stuff.
I've seen them but have been VERY hesitant to try, but since you recommend, I'll give it a try...
My AeroGarden is going to get the second planting but if they have dill in a tube, hmmm..
I've been using the cilantro for an enchilada recipe I have and the ginger for this fab peanut chicken recipe. They are GREAT! So convenient, inexpensive and non-wasteful. I always hate buying a HUGE bush of cilantro and throwing 3/4 of it away. And as for the ginger...what a pain in the but to mince!
Seriously? I'm going to have to try these!
I'm going to have to move south if not for the herbs you are talking about...but for the shoes and everything else you have mentioned!
Canada is just way behind in the product development department as well as fun and inexpensive [that don't look inexpensive] shoes!!!!!
I can't even begin to explain the excitement I feel about these tubes. I can't wait to find some!!!!!!
I just bought some of the italian seasoning - can't wait to try !
Mon Dieu! Les herbs in les tubes!! Honestly, if I read about there anyplace else I would be leery, but since it came from you, queen of all things basil, I'm going to give them a whirl.
Libby you are too kind!! :-) Let me know how they work out, I would hate to lead She Who Has The Best Recipes astray!
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