Fresh Mint..Not Just for Juleps Anymore...

I have fresh mint growing in my pots on my deck. Looks great, but it grows so darned fast and I don't have much use for it...or so I thought.

Fresh mint is so easy to dry and can be used in so many ways and will keep in a storage container forever!!!

-Cut fresh mint almost to the base of stem (don't worry it will grow back)
-Put in oven, turned off of course, on a cookie sheet and let dry completely. If you don't use your oven very often, this is easy to do! If you do use it, put mint on a cookie sheet and let dry in a pantry or cupboard for at least 3 - 4 days.
-Crumble dry mint with fingers and put in storage container. It is that easy.

Uses for dried mint...

-Orange, red onion, avocado salsa with lime juice and fresh mint
-Lemon zest, garlic and mint paste, great on lamb, pork and chicken
-Mixed with other dried herbs from the garden, it is that "hmmm what is that flavor" secret herb
-Mix with loose tea leaves and brew for a minty, refreshing, iced tea
-Sliced cucumbers, thinly slivered sweet onion, cider vinegar, olive oil, celery seed, salt & pepper and dried mint makes a great side dish for fish, pork, chicken
-Quarter fresh strawberries, add some powdered sugar for sweetness a few splashes of Kahlua or Grand Marnier and some fresh mint...yummm.

These are few options, feel free to share your ideas for mint...the other green herb!