SERVE UP YUM

with easy-grow herbs

Flavor drinks with an herbal infusion

“There is nothing quite as satisfying as growing flavorful herbs for drinks,” says organic gardening pro Natalie Bovis, author of Edible

Cocktails: From Garden to Glass, who plants her own herbs for versatility in recipes. For a varied garden, plant thyme, rosemary, sage and lemon balm seedlings in well-draining pots in full sun; water regularly. Enjoy! Take time now to make a batch of Bovis’ herbal limoncello that will last all summer! To do: Add 2 bottles of vodka and the zest of 15 lemons to a sealed jar; let sit for two weeks. In a saucepan over low heat, dissolve 4 cups of sugar into 5 cups of water. Add 6 rosemary sprigs and let cool, then pour into lemon-vodka jar and shake well. Infuse for two weeks; chill and strain before serving. Store in the fridge.

Sweeten sips with stevia leaves

“The natural sweetener stevia can be a wonderful calorie-free alternative to sugar,” says Jill Winger, author of The

Prairie Homestead Cookbook. She suggests planting stevia seedlings (available at nurseries) in well-drained soil in a sunny spot and keeping the soil moist. Pinch off any flower buds that grow, as they can make the leaves become bitter. Enjoy! For a mojito mocktail, add the juice of 1 lime, 5 mint leaves, 5 stevia leaves and ice to a cocktail shaker; shake. Pour into an ice-filled glass; top with 4 oz. of seltzer. Optional: Stir in 2 oz. of rum.

Serve up muddled delights with a towering trio

“Even if space is limited, you can still have a thriving herb garden by stacking plants,” says Bovis. “It’s practical, living art!” To do: Stake a wood dowel in the center of a pot of soil. Stack a smaller pot on the dowel through its drainage hole, then top with another pot. Fill the pots with soil and plant seedlings like basil, lemon balm, marjoram, oregano and thyme around the edges. Place in full to partial sun and keep the soil moist.

Enjoy! For a honey-herb margarita, muddle 3 basil leaves and 1 tsp. of honey in a glass, then stir in 2 oz. of tequila and top off with grapefruit juice.