Herbs are such a beautiful accent to all-season dishes and are just as delicious by themselves as salads and in pestos.  With the warmer months dedicated to the initial planting season for herbs, primarily because of their delicate structures, the mind wonders if it's at all possible to even grow, let alone, tend to such tender leaves in the colder seasons.  

The answer: YES!
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Planting these precious greens in the colder months is really no different from growing them in the hotter months with the obvious exception of colder temps.  Indoor/outdoor, in the ground or in pots, the biggest and obvious minor tweak is protecting the leaves during a frost.  If you choose outdoors and in-ground for your herb landscape, you will need to apply a fleece-type covering when the weather threatens frost. 

​The great and convenient advantage of planting in containers is that when the temperature drops, you can simply and easily bring them inside- plus their delicious fresh aroma fills your space acting as a natural air freshener!
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Now, what to do with these herbs in the coming months?
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• 2 cups non-dairy butter, softened (earth balance)
• 1 tbsp thyme, chopped
• 1 tbsp sage, chopped
• 1 tbsp rosemary, chopped
• 1 tbsp parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
• 1 tbsp chives, chopped

Prep:

1. Combine all above ingredients.
2. Scoop herb butter into a container with sealed lid, preferably glass.
3. Let set in fridge for at least 1 hour to firm.
4. Enjoy on warm bread, add to sauces, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, fish, etc.!

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Baybaaay, when I tell you!!!!!  The Dr. Praeger's Perfect Burger is out here giving The Beyond Burgera WHOLE marathon-run for their money!!  Let the Plant Based Burger Battle begin!

​I stumbled across this amazing find while perusing the aisles of my local Costco.  Now, one of my best girlfriends hipped me to Dr. Praeger's Spinach Cakes while in Cincinnati a few years ago and they were delicious by themselves as a side, but not on a bun.  See, I don't particularly care for veggie patties that are of a bean and/or potato consistency.  It feels too heavy on me like carb-on-carb.  So the mimic of an animal-like texture protein patty, say that of a Beyond, Impossible, or my new discovery, Dr. Praeger's, is ideal! 

​But I digress.

When perfectly seared by adding a bit of Abstract Spice on both sides to pefectly season and create a delicious crust, this 'burger' surpasses the Beyond Burger HANDS DOWN!!  To my Beyond lovers, you know that greasy residue and strange scent that comes from the purchased frozen Beyond Burger patty once thawed?  Well those two things tend to discourage some of the healthful eaters out here attempting to eliminate animal protein from their diet.  Fortunately, the Dr. Praeger's burger is free of these unfortunate characteristics.  No greasy residue, and no strange odor.  This burger patty is similar in color and frozen when purchased, but is individually wrapped, unlike the 2-patty packaged Beyond.  Both are similar in how they cook up, but the Dr. Praeger's patty has a texture SO much more similar to that of an animal protein burger, my hubby had to keep double checking to make sure he wasn't eating the turkey burgers by mistake!

What's more, the price for an 8-pack of these delicious soy and gluten free, 20g of pure protein packed, individually wrapped 'burgers' is approximately $12 a box!  That's a good $1 cheaper per patty than that of The Beyond Burger!

​So if you're any where near a Costco, be sure to pick up a box of these AMAZING Dr. Praeger's Perfect Burger patties.  Deliciously sensible, certified, kosher, sustainable, and vegan!