After a long day at the office,  a ride home on a city bus and arriving home to realize that the snowplough has cleared the street and dumped most of the snow back into my driveway, I sometimes feel too exhausted to make dinner.  I know that I can’t be the only one to feel this way during a Canadian winter.

I have others to cook for so I press on to the kitchen to see what pedestrian masterpiece I can whip up (that is edible to teenagers) without much creativity flowing from my brain.  Seems like a recipe for culinary disaster or the use of some same-old, same-old standard fare.  However I am always surprised at how dinner can be saved and how I can be energized and uplifted by the scent given off from handling fresh herbs.

I have a rosemary plant growing in a pot on the windowsill, one I brought in from the garden, and I always try to have fresh cilantro, basil or other fresh herbs in the house.  This is more challenging in winter but is so very important.  In fact, in our house, herbs are up there with espresso, chocolate, smelly cheeses and red wine.

The fresh scent of rosemary rubbed between my hands or of chopped cilantro and basil makes my nose dance which causes my mouth to smile which leads to deep breathing, leading to the circulation of more oxygenated blood, all resulting in a refreshed and re-energized spirit.  Bang, life back on-track through the positive power of wonderful aromas and the healing scent of fresh herbs.

Life is good when we can still appreciate simple pleasures….and fresh herbs hide any lack of skill in the kitchen….