Cooking with herbs is fun and easy. Adding one or two can turn any dish from ok to wow!

Use fresh herbs whenever possible. Dried ones in glass or metal containers are great, too, and will last a long time. Store them in the cupboard so they’re always handy. Some favorites:

• Chives: This has a delicate onion flavor and is especially good for summer meals. It’s easy to grow in a pot on the windowsill and has a small lavender flower.
• Cilantro: Every part of the plant — leaves, seeds and roots — can be used. It has a strong smell especially while it’s growing, and is used frequently in Vietnamese recipes.
• Curry: This powder is made up of many ingredients like peppercorns and cumin — and is used a lot in Indian and Asian dishes.
• Dill: This is one herb you might want to use fresh, not dried. Its tender little branches smell as good as they taste and can be used all year ‘round.
• Parsley: There are two kinds —curly and flat leaves. Most people think the flat variety tastes better. Not only does parsley add a nice flavor, it makes even a plain dish look pretty.
• Tarragon: The big green leaves of tarragon have a strong taste. So chop it very fine or add only a few leaves to the pot.

Lucky for you, there are no rules. It really depends on what you think tastes best. Once you try, you can decide if you like it or not, and if you’ve used enough, too little or too much.

If you’ve never experimented with herbs, begin by using it the way people all over the world do, as described below:

• American Cuisine uses chives in eggs and vegetables, and to decorate dishes, too
• Vietnamese Cuisine includes cilantro in spring rolls
• Italian Cuisine pairs basil with tomatoes
• Scandinavian Cuisine puts dill on fish and potatoes
• British Cuisine adds mint to cooked peas and beans
• French Cuisine sprinkles rosemary on pork while it’s cooking
• Greek Cuisine goes for a dash of oregano with shellfish
• Indian Cuisine is famous for curry dishes made of lamb or chicken over rice

Test some herb additions to your usual recipes – you’ll soon put a flavorful twist on an old dish.