This work contains more than 150 delicious and unusual recipes that make the most of fresh herbs, from soups, snacks and fresh salads to delectably fragrant fish, meat, rices, breads and desserts - each beautifully illustrated with step-by-step shots and the final mouth-watering dish. It is a comprehensive visual A-Z botanical directory of herbs for easy plant identification. It contains information about how to design various styles of herb garden, with examples, planting lists and illustrated plans, from kitchen gardens, knot gardens, raised beds and herb wheels to informal beds and borders, containers and window boxes. Virtually all herbs have a natural affinity with food, and they can be used both to complement and enliven ingredients in a subtle way or permeate the whole dish with a deliciously aromatic scent. Chopped, torn and sprinkled, herbs add interest and depth to a whole variety of dishes from soups and summery salads to warm herby breads, meat and poultry, fish, vegetable dishes, cakes, desserts and ices. Herbs can also be used to flavour teas, drinks, cordials, sugars, salts, butters, stocks, sauces, chutneys and marinades, and for decorative garnishes. This comprehensive book contains everything you need to know about successfully growing and cooking with these versatile and robust plants, including expert advice on choosing which plants to grow and where to grow them, as well as instructive step-by-step techniques to guide you through the entire growing process, from planning and preparation to harvesting, drying and preserving.