Imagine that you’re gathered around the table on Christmas day, enjoying dinner with friends and family. The snow is falling outside, completely blanketing your garden. Little do they know that you used fresh herbs from your kitchen garden in some of their dishes!

“We recently introduced fresh organic potted herbs in our stores,” says Meg Gallagher, English Gardens House Plant Buyer. “They’re great for indoor gardening in the winter – just snip off whatever you’ll need for that meal.”

“Organic herbs are non-GMO and are grown in an environmentally friendly way without synthetic pesticides, herbicides or chemical-based products. Organic is important in the winter, since it’s considered healthier for consumption.”

Roasted Vegetables with Fresh Herbs

Courtesy of Food & Wine.

Ingredients:

• 4 Medium Carrots, Peeled and Sliced
• 2 Large Parsnips, Peeled and Sliced
• 1 Medium Head Cauliflower, Cut into 1-Inch Florets
• 1 Small Butternut Squash, Peeled, Seeded and Cut into 1-Inch Dices
• 1 Pound Brussel Sprouts, Halved
• ½ Cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• 10 Sage Leaves
• 5 Thyme Sprigs
• Two 6-Inch Rosemary Sprigs, Cut into 2-Inch Lengths
• Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, toss the vegetables with olive oil, sage, thyme and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper. Spread the vegetables on baking sheets and roast for 55 minutes. Toss halfway through. Serve hot.  

Christmas Tree Bread

Courtesy of Freebie Finding Mom.

Ingredients:

• Pizza Dough
• ¾ Block Cream Cheese
• Provolone and Mozzarella Shredded Cheese Mix
• 1 Garlic Clove
• 1 Teaspoon Italian Spices
• 3 Tablespoons Salted Butter
• A Handful of Basil, Thyme and Rosemary
• Marinara Sauce for Dipping

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix cream cheese, shredded cheese and Italian spices together. Roll out dough and cut into 30 even pieces. Place a ½ tablespoon of cheese mix into each dough piece. Roll each dough piece into a ball. Place six to seven balls in a row on a greased baking sheet towards the bottom, this is the bottom of the tree. Build your tree, using one less ball for each row to create a triangle shape. Melt butter and brush over tree. Cook for 25-30 minutes or until golden. Cut up herbs and mine with garlic clove. Add herb and garlic mixture to remaining butter and drizzle over tree. Serve warm with marinara.

Antipasto Pasta Salad

Courtesy of Chef Savvy.

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Uncooked Whole Wheat Penne Pasta
• ½ Cup Swiss Cheese, Cubed
• ¼ Cup Dry Coppa, Medium Dice
• ¼ cup Dry Salami, Medium Dice
• 1 Medium Tomato, Medium Dice
• 3 Tablespoon Red Onion, Medium Dice
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
• 1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 Tablespoon Basil, Chopped
• 1 Tablespoon Parsley, Chopped
• ¼ Teaspoon Dried Oregano
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 Cup Spinach

Cook the past per the box instructions. Add the coppa, salami, cheese, tomatoes and onion to a large bowl. After pasta has finished cooking, add to the bowl. Add the lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Toss to combine. Add in basil, parsley, oregano, pepper, salt and spinach. Toss to combine and serve.