Fun New Ways to Gift Your Herbs This Holiday Season
Even though you may have moved your garden indoors for the winter, there’s still many wonderful ways you can put your efforts to good use. Of course, if you have an herb garden you can be using your herbs all winter in your own cooking. But there are some really great ways that you can share what you love with those you love too. Here are some suggestions for gifting your herbs this holiday season:
Fragrant Honey
Herbed honey is a unique and wonderful treat. Make your own and give it as a gift. Just place your herb of choice in the bottom of a jar and then pour in the honey. Place in a sunny window and allow to steep for two to three weeks, turning the jar every so often to move the herbs around in the honey. Lavender, thyme, rosemary, lemon balm or mint all work great! Savory honey is delicious atop chicken or in homemade sauces. Sweet flavored honeys are fabulous on crunchy bread and in hot tea.
Herb-inspired Wrapping Paper
Make your own wrapping paper letting your garden herbs serve as the fresh design. Place several sprigs of an herb (stem included) across the face of white paper and then top with a second sheet of paper. Use a hammer to pound your design. You’ll know you’re finished when the color begins to bleed through your top sheet.
Homemade Bouqet Garni
Give a cookbook or collection of recipe cards and adorn your gift with some fresh herbs.
Bouquet garni can be made with four sprigs, parsley, four sprigs thyme and one bay leaf wired together or try three sprigs parsley, two sprigs fresh rosemary and one bay leaf. Wrap them nicely in a cheesecloth or leave as an actual bouquet tied into the bow of your gift. Bouquet garni is fabulous for flavoring soups and stews but even nice with braised meats.
An Herb Wreath
An herb wreath makes a great gift topper and a gift in itself. Once it is taken off the gift, it will dry into a lovely wall hanging. Just use the wire from a closet hanger (or 18-gauge floral wire) to form a wreath of whatever size you choose. Next, snip fresh rosemary and thyme into two or three inch lengths and attach them to the heart with paddle wire. Your wreath will look and smell terrific.
At Kincaid Plant Markers we know that gardeners love to garden. And they love to explore new ways of sharing their passion with others. We think these uses for herbs are a great way to share your love of gardening with others. We’d suggest tucking in some of our sturdy but attractive plant markers with any of our suggested gift adornments to give your holiday gifts some extra appeal. Order today and have them in time for gift-giving!
