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