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