If you’re a self-described “foodie”, someone who is kind of into food or someone who merely eats it to keep on living then this post is for you!

Food seems to come up as a concern for just about everyone who’s decided to scale-back on spending. Whether you’re full-force into a Spending Fast or if you’re just thinking about possibly, maybe, not quite sure yet, about reigning in the spending something that can make your life a whole lot easier, and like, a million times tastier is learning how to cook with herbs and seasonings. Herbs and seasonings are really, really inexpensive (can’t help but love that!), and they can make such a huge difference in a meal. Cooking at home is one of the benefits/curses of cutting back on spending so you’ll get the chance to do a lot of experimenting with your herbage and flavorizing. I made up those words just for you; I hope you like them.

The wonderful Robyn Jasko who is the author of Homesweet Homegrown (a DIY guide to growing, storing, and preserving your own food), a local foods activist, community garden starter, and she is also the co-founder of Grow Indie (busy lady!) is sharing some of her favorite tips on how to incorporate herbs to maximize flavor.

Guess what! She is also giving away a signed copy of her super cute and useful book Homesweet Homegrown along with a free garden collection of 5 easy to grow, heirloom, gmo-free organic seeds! enter below the recipes

It might be chilly where you live but her book (awesomely) tells all about how you can garden inside and with limited space. Eating well can be done inexpensively and easily!

Easy Ways to Maximize Flavor with Herbs… 

Tips by Robyn Jasko 

Herbal Salt – This works for all types of herbs, is super easy to make, and will add amazing flavor to just about anything (especially roasted vegetables). To make: mix 1/2 cup of chopped fresh herbs, such as rosemary, basil, thyme or sage, with 1/2 cup of sea salt and mix well. Spread on a cookie sheet to dry for a few days or dehydrate in the oven at 100 degrees until the herbs are dried and crunchy (about 2 to 4 hours). Stored in a glass jar, these dried herbal salts will last for several months, and make great presents.

Vinegar Infusions – Herbal vinegars are great for salads, or adding a little flavor to whatever you are cooking up. To make: put 2 cups of 5 percent vinegar in a non-aluminum pot, and take 4 sprigs of fresh herbs (or 3 tablespoons of dried herbs), and place them in a sealable glass jar. Heat up the vinegar until it starts to boil then take it off of the heat and pour into the jar containing the herbs. Cap the jar and place it in a dark spot. After two weeks, strain the vinegar into a glass bottle, add a few additional herbs (for flavor and prettiness), label your bottle, then store in the fridge after opening.

Organic Tea – My favorite homegrown organic teas to make are: fresh mint, pineapple sage, echinacea, and lemonbalm. I grown the herbs in my garden, wash them, and then place them in a dehydrator. No dehydrator? No problem! Simply set the herbs out to dry for a few days and then store in a Mason jar.

Flavored Vodka – Forget the flavored vodkas at the store; they are pricey, and full of nasty, fake chemical flavors. It’s really easy (and way more fun) to get the vodka lab going at your very own home. Just grab a bottle, and add whatever you want to flavor it with, then strain. It’s so simple! To make limoncello, add organic lemon zest, or try mixing up a hot peppers vodka by adding fresh habaneros or jalapenos. Another favorite of mine is to use split vanilla beans. Let the flavors infuse into the vodka in a dark spot for about three weeks, strain, and then pour into fancy bottle (there are tons available at the thrift store). Label, and voila! Your own brand of fancy flavored vodka.

These would also make great DIY gift ideas for birthdays, anniversaries, hostess gifts, etc., all year-round.

Enter the Giveaway!  – THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED – Thanks for entering!

To enter you must use the Rafflecopter form below. Contest is open for 7 days and the winner will be announced below, on Facebook, and on Twitter. Good Luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How do you like to use herbs and seasoning to maximize flavor? Do you have any tips for someone who is new to using herbs and seasonings? 

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