| Ruth Bass has covered travel and food for | | | | hummus, or spoon it over cooked fish. |
| many years as a columnist and former editor | | | | |
| for The Berkshire Eagle, a daily | | | | Bass has never grown dill inside her home, |
| Massachusetts newspaper. An avid organic | | | | but it's a favorite in her outdoor organic |
| gardener and cook, she was a natural to write | | | | garden. Once you plant it, however, be |
| "Herbal Salads" -- one in a series of | | | | prepared for it to migrate to other parts of |
| cookbooks that teach readers how to | | | | your garden. |
| incorporate fresh herbs into a variety of | | | | |
| creative salads, soups, main dishes and | | | | "We really have to watch it in the spring," |
| desserts. | | | | she says, "because it has seeded itself in |
| | | | the big vegetable garden. I have to make sure |
| "I was a cook and herb user for a long time | | | | my husband doesn't plow it up! We have dill |
| before I wrote my first cookbook," she tells | | | | growing among the beets and carrots. It's |
| Organic Authority. | | | | about 4 feet tall and lovely to use. It's a |
| | | | beautiful plant when it's tall and swaying in |
| Bass's recipes are ideal for those of us who | | | | the breeze." Ensalada de Naranjas (Orange |
| buy natural and organic foods, as well as | | | | Salad) The sweetness of navel oranges and the |
| home organic gardeners who plant their own | | | | crispness of cucumbers put fruit and |
| organic herbs. During the winter months, when | | | | vegetables in happy combination in this |
| your herb garden is in "hibernation," you | | | | traditional Mexican salad. |
| should have no trouble finding quality herbs | | | | |
| at your local organic food store. | | | | Makes 4 servings 1 head curly endive or |
| | | | approximately 12 ounces fresh spinach 3 navel |
| "Markets are good now -- much better than | | | | oranges, peeled and cut into thin slices 1 |
| they were 10 years ago, when I first started | | | | large cucumber, unpeeled, sliced very thin 1 |
| doing my books," Bass says. "It wasn't that | | | | tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano 3 |
| easy to walk into a supermarket in a | | | | scallions, cut into 1/4-inch pieces 1/4 cup |
| relatively small community and find them. In | | | | olive oil 1/2 cup vinegar Freshly ground |
| fact, they're so good in stores now that I | | | | black pepper 1. Arrange the washed and |
| don't really bother to grow them in the house | | | | drained endive or spinach in a shallow bowl. |
| during the winter. You'll find small | | | | |
| quantities in markets, so they're always | | | | 2. Place the orange and cucumber slices in a |
| fresh, and the selection is quite good." Bass | | | | decorative pattern over the greens. |
| shares two easy recipes -- "Cacik" and | | | | |
| "Ensalada de Naranjas" -- in this article. | | | | Sprinkle the oregano and scallions on top. |
| They are international salads (one Middle | | | | |
| Eastern, one Mexican) that call for fresh | | | | 3. Mix the oil, vinegar and pepper to taste, |
| vegetables, fruit and herbs. | | | | and pour over the salad. |
| | | | |
| Cacik Pronounced "jah-jik," cacik is a Middle | | | | "I came across this recipe a long time ago," |
| Eastern specialty made with lots of yogurt | | | | Bass says. "I don't remember if it was in |
| and dill. To vary the recipe, add 1/2 | | | | Mexico or in a cookbook, and we were having a |
| teaspoon of ground cumin to the yogurt | | | | Mexican Christmas party. We buy long English |
| mixture or increase the dill. | | | | cucumbers, which are dependably good. In the |
| | | | summertime, we hope to have them in the |
| Makes 6 to 8 servings 2 cups plain yogurt 1 | | | | garden." As for the oregano, Bass grows both |
| tablespoon finely snipped fresh dill or 1 | | | | Greek and golden varieties. |
| teaspoon ground dried dill 2 to 3 large | | | | |
| garlic cloves, chopped and crushed 1 medium | | | | "I really love Greek oregano," she says. |
| cucumber, peeled and diced 3 to 4 parsley | | | | |
| sprigs 1. Mix yogurt, dill and garlic in a | | | | "You could also use marjoram in this recipe, |
| glass or ceramic bowl. Cover and refrigerate | | | | which is a first cousin to oregano. I often |
| for at least 3 hours. | | | | use golden oregano because it has a beautiful |
| | | | color. I've come to like it in the garden. It |
| 2. Gently stir in the cucumber pieces just | | | | has very pretty purple blossoms that grow |
| before serving. Garnish with parsley sprigs. | | | | taller than you really ought to let an herb |
| | | | grow!" For more recipes and insights from |
| Bass received this recipe from her sister, | | | | Ruth Bass, check our organic blog (updated |
| who lived in Turkey and Yemen for a while. | | | | every weekday) the week of Dec. 11. Be sure |
| It's normally served as a side relish, or you | | | | to post your comments after you try the |
| can roll it in a tortilla, she says. Our | | | | featured dishes. |
| suggestion: Add it to a falafel in place of | | | | |