What I recall growing up as a child about my mom’s cooking is that it always tasted good and I always wanted seconds, but mom, having eleven children to feed, you were lucky you got a plate full of food the first time.
I never thought about the herbs that went into food preparation. As I got older, all I used was salt and pepper to flavor my food.
I know what you might be thinking, if my mom was such a good cook what happened to me?
My mom passed away in a car wreck, and so did all the wisdom of her cooking and herbal healings.
The only ones that benefited from her were my older sisters. but as time went by I learned more about herbs from my sisters and people I met along the way in my life.
I was very happy to learn more about herbs. They do make such a big difference in the food you prepare.
I do remember mom putting whole dried herbs in a molcajete (mortar and pestle) and grinding them, but at the time I didn’t realize what she was doing. She would tell us to get out of the kitchen because I would get in the way, so out I went to play.
Only my older sisters where in the kitchen with her.
The Four Most Popular Herbs in the World
But now that I am older and know the names of the herbs by the smells, I can easily remember and associate the smells with the flavors, like Cumin is one of the most used spices in the world.
1. Cumin
Cumin has a warm, earthy flavor and aroma. It helps with digestion, and is also a rich source of Iron.
Another good and popular herb is Cilantro.
2. Cilantro
Cilantro leaves have a very strong, fragrant smell when added to foods. It helps with digestion, fights infections, and helps improve sleep quality.
3. Garlic
Garlic cloves are used for consumption when eaten raw or cooked. Garlic is pungent, sharp, and spicy. Garlic can combat sickness like the common cold, reduce blood pressure, and improve cholesterol levels.
4. Oregano
Oregano is very strongly aromatic and slightly bitter. The oregano flavor is composed of earthy/musty, green hay, and mint. Oregano fights infections, is good to use on respiratory infections like cough, asthma, croup and bronchitis.
When my boys were young, they had a bad mucus congestion in their lungs that you could hear with every breath they took.
I went to visit a good friend. I told her about my boys and that I was concerned. She told me to make a tea of Oregano and Garlic, let it simmer and them cool down, add a little honey, and give to the boys to drink.
She also said not to give them any dairy products. I did this for two weeks and their lungs cleared up.
The good thing about using the herbs in your every day cooking is that it helps your body to heal and stop any illness on its tracks.
With the processed food we eat today ,and how they prepare it, it is not as healthy for you as making your food fresh at home.