A strong flavored herb, basil has a rich flavor with a trace of mint and clove. It can be grown in a sunny window for various uses in tomato dishes and salads. It is the key ingredient in pesto sauce, the simple and delicious Italian pasta sauce.

If you've never considered yourself as having a green thumb before, growing fresh herbs is a terrific first step. They're also an important part of what Linda McCartney called a "living kitchen" in her vegetarian cookbook entitled, Home Cooking; Quick, Easy, And Economical Vegetarian Dishes for Today.

If you're going to grow one …

I make it a practice never to cook without spices of some kind. That is because I simply cannot tolerate a dish that is blah and bland.

While I sometimes make my own spice blends, every once and a while I turn to an outstanding product that is already on the market. One of my favorites of all time is Tony Chachere's Spice N' Herbs Seasoning.

I love this spice blend because it works well with just about any type of food you can imagine. The one exception, of course, might be desserts. However, even a few of those can …

Being a middle aged runner who has been running for over 30 years, I’ve found myself having to rely on a lot of anti-inflammatory medicines available, both alternative, as well as natural. As I’ve aged, I began to find that the natural ones were easier on my digestive system, and in the case of a spice called turmeric, actually soothed the indigestion I get from food allergies. So there began my love affair with herbs. I’ve taken a number of classes on herbs given through my employer from a number of herbalists at Outpost Natural Foods in Milwaukee, my hometown. …

Growing herbs is not only pleasing but provide opportunities to boost vitamins and antioxidants in cooking. Herbs also have therapeutic properties, such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory that offer a practical value often enjoyed in tea. Two of the easiest and fastest-germinating herbs to grow from seed are the annuals basil and cilantro (coriander).

The biennial parsley will grow adequately well from seed if soaked in hot water overnight. The perennials oregano and thyme round out the top five list; it is probably best to start the seeds indoors and transplant the young plants when the ground has warmed up.

Basil …