THURSDAY, APRIL3, 2003
TRENDS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3
Fresh herbs add health,spice to meals
By Megan Hickerson mhickerson@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Fresh herbs are a way for students to spice up bland meals while adding a healthy component to their diet.
And they can be grown in the comforts of apartments or residence hall rooms.
Herbs are durable plants that require little care but provide a big taste to your bland college meals.
While some students don't cook with fresh herbs because they are costly, shelling out a few extra dollars doesn't bother Lauren Collar, Overland Park junior.
"I buy fresh herbs at the Merc quite a bit — I buy lots of basil," Collar said. "Fresh herbs have a richer flavor, and I don't mind the cost."
Because small herb plants are lowmaintenance they can thrive in the windowsill of a residence hall room. Anita Vail, employee at Pines Howard Garden Center and Green Houses, 1320 N. Third, said the easiest herb
"Fresh herbs are good for you entire body. They are good for your heart, they help lower your blood pressure,and they are also good for you mind."
Nit McComas Thai Chef at Zen Zero, 811 Massachusetts Street
plants to care for were mint, oregano and sage. They need 10 to 12 hours of sunlight daily and a bit of water.
"Most people water them too much," Vail said. "Allow them to dry a little between watering—they shouldn't be soggy.
Besides adding life to your home, fresh herbs can really add some zing to the average college diet.
Nit McComas, Thai Chef at Zen Zero, 811 Massachusetts Street, adds fresh herbs to almost all of her dishes. Not only does she value the extra taste, McComas said that fresh
herbs were essential to a healthy lifestyle.
"Fresh herbs are good for you entire body," McComas said. "They are good for your heart, they help lower your blood pressure, and they are also good for you mind."
Though some students include fresh herbs in their diet to better their lifestyle, others include them just to have a good time. The mojito, a popular alcoholic drink that's made with dark rum, soda water, lime juice and fresh mint leaves, is becoming increasingly popular. Ryan McGilley, Cleveland senior, said he would try the herbal concoction.
"Mint has an aromatic and soothing quality, and I like rum," McGilley said.
Fresh herbs add that extra zing to your diet. From pasta to rum, fresh herbs can turn bland ingredients into award-winning dishes. Remember, a little goes a long way.
Edited by Brandon Gay
Photo illustration by Dan Nelson/Kansan
Some herbs, like these at the Merc grocery store at 9th and Iowa, can also be grown at home.
CALENDAR
TODAY
Floyd The Barber, 7 p.m. at Pachamama's
The Soundtrack of Our Lives, 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck
Griffin / Gang of Fours at the Jazzhaus In Kansas City...
Poncho Sanchez at Gem Theatre
The Supertones / Relient K / Pillar / John Reuben / Sanctus Real, 7 p.m. at The New Earth Coffee House
Two-Thirty Eight / The Autumn State /
Cheating Kay, 7 p.m. at El Torreon
Wolf Eyes / Neil Burke at Your Face
Shandon Sahm / The Litigators, 9 p.m. at Grand Emporium
- Stacey Earle / Mark Stuart at Davey's Uptown
Eye Theory / Pull / Lareado, 10 p.m. at The Hurricane
TOMORROW
Papa Roach / Non Point / Reach 464,7 p.m. at Liberty Hall
Mark Gottschall, 6 p.m. at Pachamama's
Big Smith at The Bottleneck
The Bel Airs at the Jazzhaus
Steve Fonseca Comedy Showcase, 10:30 p.m. at Duffy's Lounge, Ramada Inn
Tullamore with bagpipers from K.C. St.
Tavern
Key / Sounds Good, 10 p.m. at Fatso's
Smith Brothers, 9 p.m. at Stu's Midtown Tavern In Kansas City...
The Vines / The Music, 8 p.m. at Uptown Theater
Sound Transmission / Supraluxx / Gutbunny at Davey's Uptown
Ross Christopher, 8 p.m. at Borders Bookstore, 91st and Metcalf streets
Truth Cell / Given With Honor, 7 p.m. at El Torreon
Neil Burk "Sinking Body" at Your Face.
The Grand Fiasco / Floodplane, 9 p.m. at Grand Emporium
Thunderhead — A Rush Tribute at The Hurricane
Kathy Troccoli at Kemper Arena
SATURDAY
Love Squad / Leave / The Daybirds at The Bottleneck
Andrew Ripes & Dumbie, 10 p.m. at Johnny's Back Fordb Blues Band 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
No Lessons / Javier Mendoza / Jeff Kanterman at Abe & Jake's Landing
Twyla Tharp Dance, 7:30 p.m. at Lied Center
The Band That Saved the World at the Jazzhaus
Greg Brown / Karen Savoca at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union
Midtown Tavern
Battlefest Finals (Session II), 9 p.m. at The Pool Room In Kansas City...
Vibralux at The Brick
Steep Cannon Rangers, 8 p.m. at Davey's Uptown
Honky Tonk Chateau / Lust-R-Tones /
Pendergast, 10:30 p.m. at Davey's Uptown
Princess Superstar / Mac Lethal / DJ BeeCan, 9 p.m. at The Hurricane
- Brave Combo New CD Release Party, 9 p.m.
at Grand Emporium
SUNDAY
Cantus, 2 p.m. at Lied Center
Aislers Set / Hella / The Quails, 8 p.m. at The Bottleneck In Kansas City...
Ramona Quimby, 3 p.m. at Folly Theater
The Love, Peace & Soul of Poetry, 8 p.m. at Uptown Theater
MONDAY
Delgados / Aerogramme / Nameless#
Headman, 8 p.m. at The Bottleneck
In Kansas City...
Brodiokie at The Brick
Brother Ike's Rural Grit Happy Hour, 6 p.m. at Grand Emporium
TUESDAY
Aislers Set / Murder by Death, 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck
No Lessons / Another Day at Granada Theatre In Kansas City...
Beerzone / The Skags / Brass Knuckle Choir / Hot Plate, 7 p.m. at El Torreon
Julio Iglesias, 8 p.m. at Ameristar Hotel & Casino
Nonetheless, 7 p.m. at YahWeh Cappucinno House
Club Wars Invitational Round feat. Shiver / Hydrafader / Penumbra, 9 p.m. at Grand Emporium
Sound Transmission at Grand Emporium
WEDNESDAY
Rise Against the Arrivals, 8 p.m. at The Bottleneck
Tone Loc / Dru Money / Miss Dezz, 8 p.m. at Abe & Jake's Landing Kansas City...
Electric Eel Shock / Pixel Panda/ An Emergency, 7 p.m. at El Torreon
Savoy Brown feat. Kim Simmonds at Grand Emporium
- Jason Boland and the Stragglers at Davey's Uptown
Broken Cowboys at Beaumont Club