February 20: First Spring Herbs

I come from the interior of BC, where there is still snow, so it's incredible to me that in my mother's garden the herbs have already begun to grow. There are flowers in my daughter-in-law's garden; tiny, perfect snowdrops, and more pushing their way up, getting ready to put on a show. Next to the herb garden in mom's back yard, the heather is blooming, pink and white. It's a marvel to me, coming from a land of long winters.

Today I picked thyme and Italian oregano and laced my spinach salad with it. What a great way to celebrate the coming of Spring!

Recipe:
Prepare fresh herbs by removing and discarding the stems. Toss the leaves in a creamy dressing with fresh baby spinach, cubes of cold, cooked chicken breast, sliced mushrooms and carrots, dried cranberries, toasted almonds and soft goat cheese.

For the dressing, use a little mayo and whisk in some red wine vinegar, water, and a bit of sugar.