How to Preserve Herbs

Over the summer my mom and I had a herb garden on our patio. This is because otherwise the deer would eat them all. We had thyme, chives, verbena, basil, oregano and other herbs. So today my mom and I preserved the oregano and chives. We did this by making chive butter and thyme into oregano ice cubes. These are just two simple ways of preserving the flavor of your favorite herbs so they will last the harsh winter.

Oregano Ice Cubes: 

 First pick some oregano from your garden or use the oregano from the grocery store if you want to preserve that. Then wash it to get the bugs and dirt off before preserving it.

Rough chop the oregano so that you don't need to chop it up after you defrost it.

Put 1 tablespoon worth of oregano into an ice cube tray and then fill it with water to about halfway.

Put in the freezer for about 3-4 hours and then add more water on top until it reaches the top of the tray.

Then freeze for another 3-4 hours and then put them into a bag labeled "oregano" until needed use. 

Chive Butter:

Pick some chives from you herb garden and or buy some chives from the supermarket. Rough chop the chives and then add to the food processor.

Add about a teaspoon of salt, 1/4 cup olive oil, a stick or two of butter, and 3/4 to 1 cup of chives, mix until combined.

Put into plastic wrap and form it into the shape of a log.

Cut into slices when ready to use, this would be great on baked potatoes, and other dishes that use chives.