Fresh Potted Herbs: You can do it too!

I planted basil in my garden this summer. It was fabulous! I used leaves for at least 20 recipes from that little $3.00 plant. It only died about a month ago because we were living away from our house for a month and never got to water it.
I planted some parsley and oregano in a flower pot and had it in my kitchen for a while, but got tired of it cluttering my already small amount of counter space. I set it on the back deck right in the middle of the all day sun with no shade. The pot I had planted it in didn't have a hole in the bottom either. Those plants died in about a week (along with a few other flowers I'd put out there).
However, I have a few potted plants that I've managed to keep alive for more than 4 months. One is sitting on my front porch that has great morning sun, but not that hot and heavy afternoon sun. It is also planted in a pot with a hole in the bottom to drain the water.
This is how I've planted my new herbs so I hope they last! I'll let you know how they do to see if this is a good spot for herb growing.

Favorite Food Network Star

Tell us why you like the Chef you voted for! Or why you don't like someone else. Let me know if I didn't name your favorite.

Fresh Potted Herbs = Good Investment

Fresh herbs are a GREAT investment. Seriously. Well, if you like fresh herbs and buy them prepackaged then you will agree with me. I'm terrible at keeping plants alive. But I have tried several times to get better and slowly I am. I love to cook with fresh herbs - they taste so much better. But buying fresh herbs in the Wal-Mart produce section is $2.38 for a couple sprigs of rosemary, thyme, etc. I went to the garden section and they have the 5" potted herbs for $3.00. So, even with my terrible, non-green thumb I can manage to keep a plant alive for a couple weeks. So, if I can keep it alive all season then I have well invested my money. I suggest you try it too!

First Order of Business

This is my favorite recipe. I craved it throughout my pregnancy and it's a good thing my husband liked it too because I made it 3 times a week! I don't make it so much now, but it's always a comforting meal when I do.
I checked all kinds of websites for an Alfredo Sauce recipe. I didn't like any of them so I combined them and took out the things I didn't like and added things I did. So there's no specific place from where I got this one. But it's really easy and is so yummy!

Alfredo Sauce

8 oz. cream cheese
1 stick butter
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup milk
1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
Garlic to taste (sometimes I leave this out)

- soften cream cheese and butter over med-low heat
- add parmesan cheese and milk and mix until smooth (I like to use a little whisk)
- add garlic and Italian seasoning and simmer until ready to use
Makes enough for about 8 oz. noodles (depending on how much sauce you like)