Cooking oils infused with fresh garden herb flavor can make a great holiday gift for friends and family, using herbs that you’ve grown and cared for. Give a homegrown gift lovingly packed inside a bottle! Here’s how…
Cooking oils infused with fresh garden herb flavor can make a great holiday gift for friends and family, using herbs that you’ve grown and cared for. Give a homegrown gift lovingly packed inside a bottle! Here’s how…
The quality of your herb oil is only going to be as good as the quality of your ingredients. Shell out for a high-quality olive oil. Fresh herbs are going to provide the strongest flavors, so use snippings direct from the garden for best results. Wash and thoroughly dry the herbs, making sure no water remains. (Water can allow bacteria to grow in the oil!) Use attractive bottles with vacuum seals or corks to seal in the contents. Decorate the bottles with rustic labels or raffia bows for a homemade appeal!
Instead of infusing one oil with several herbs, I’d recommend making a “gift set” using several small bottles, each containing a single herb. Rosemary, thyme, and basil are great choices for different cooking styles, and garlic cloves (although not an herb) are an ideal option for everyday cooking.
Be sure to let your gift recipients know that the oil must be refrigerated after opening. Botulism contamination is a concern, especially when using garlic. A homemade “instruction” tag tied around the neck of the bottle can serve as a non-intrusive safety reminder.
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