Do you grow your own herbs? Cooking is such a joy when you can walk to your back patio or apartment balcony or front porch or massive envy-of-the-neighborhood raised bed garden and pluck fresh tender herb leaves and stems from plants that you’ve nurtured yourself. Fresh herbs will change your cooking life! I promise!!

Basil is a relatively easy plant to grow. It needs two three things to thrive. Dirt, water, and sun. If you can give it a bed of good dirt, promise to water it pretty much daily and put it in a sunny spot – you’re almost guaranteed to have a happy basil plant. One that will continue to produce all summer long if you harvest regularly. Here’s a handy reference guide I wrote in an article about Growing, Harvesting, Using, Storing, Freezing and Drying Fresh Herbs.

This Basil & Herb Vinaigrette is everything! Truly the epitome of fresh, bright, flavor!

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All my best,
xo Libby

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Italian Tossed Green Salad {with Basil & Herb Vinaigrette}

There's something so delicious about a fresh crisp Italian Tossed Green Salad. A few simple ingredients tossed with a nice herby vinaigrette is the perfect start to an Italian themed dinner.

Course Salad

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Salad

• 3 hearts of romaine chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cucumber sliced or diced
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 1 can ripe black olives
• 1/2 cup ricotta salata cheese (or feta) crumbled
• 1 bag favorite croutons

For the Vinaigrette

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves only
• 1/3 cup fresh oregano and/or parsley and/or cilantro leaves only
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 shallot rough chopped
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

For the Salad

• Combine ingredients in a large salad bowl. Serve with Basil & Herb Vinaigrette.

For the Vinaigrette

• Combine ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Store in an air tight container in refrigerator for up to a week.

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