24 | THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN | WWW.KANSAN.COM | News | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2008
Weekend Project: Healthy herb garden
A herb garden is an easy, fun and healthy way of passing time this summer. The herbs could be used in many dishes and the summer weather helped the growth of the plants.
Rebekah Scaperlanda/KANSAN
Whether you're Rachel Ray or Chef Boyardee, fresh ingredients can liven up any meal. A healthy, easy and fun way to spruce up food during the summertime is by having your own herb garden. The easiest and most practical summer herbs for cooking are rosemary, oregano and basil. These herbs are versatile and can be used in many dishes.
- You can find these herbs at any grocery store that sells flowers, such as Hy-Vee or Dillons. If you want more selection, visit Home Depot or a garden supply center nursery, such as Earl May Nursery & Garden Center, 3200 Iowa St.
— Decide whether you want to grow herbs separately or all together. If you want an herb to have its own pot, buy smaller pots to separate your herbs. If you want to put multiple herbs together, buy a larger pot. Make sure to also buy a potting soil with fertilizer mixed in, such as Miracle-Gro. If you're afraid of getting a green
thumb, purchase a garden spade or gloves.
If the pot you bought has holes in the bottom, you will need to put down a layer of rocks or pieces from a broken terracotta pot. This allows for draining through the pot without soil leakage.
Next, fill the pot about halfway with soil over the rocks. Your herb should come in a plastic pot. Take the herb out of the pot while not tearing the roots. With the root ball in tact, place the plant in middle of your new pot.
Water the plant daily and enjoy watching your herbs grow.
Once the plant is in the new pot, take more soil and fill the gaps surrounding the herb with soil so the dirt is level. Water your plant right away, allowing the soil to settle. Once it settles, add more soil and place it in a sunny location. If this is an indoor plant, place on a windowsill. If your herb prefers an outdoor location, the ideal spot would be a sunny porch that is guarded by the wind.
Once they are a decent size, pick the herbs, wash them and put them on your food for a tasty treat.
"I like having fresh herbs to use in the kitchen," Kristen Kearney, 2008 graduate, said. "It's fun and relaxing. Fresh grown herbs are
cheaper, taste better and are readily available. It's ideal for spring and summer because the weather, the plants are sure to get a lot of sun."
— Rebekah Scaperlanda
Food: Search for perfect burgerends at Johnny's
I spent four years in Lawrence searching for the best cheeseburger in town. My 1,461-day experiment returned no conclusive results. Then I went to Johnny's Tavern, 401 N. 2nd St., and I found what I was looking for: Lawrence's best cheeseburger.
I admit I was not thrilled about ordering something new: It's difficult to refrain from ordering Johnny's pizza. I gave in. The waitress, who besides being competent was extremely friendly, took our orders and I asked for a cheeseburger with American cheese and French fries.
I frequented Johnny's during my time as a KU student, but I never ordered anything besides pizza, which is also fantastic by the way.
Twenty minutes later the waitress presented me with a thick, juicy cheeseburger that had deliciousness dripping from the side the bun. I hadn't even taken a bite and I knew I was in for a treat.
This weekend my friend and I went to Johnny's for lunch and he promised the cheeseburger would not let me down.
Just as I expected, the burger was perfect. It tasted so good I almost did not use ketchup, which is my favorite condiment and a necessity for all cheeseburgers.
I cleaned my plate and could not have been more satisfied. Owner Rick Renfro can now boast that his restaurant serves the best pizza and cheese-burgers in town.
Mike Nolan
BRIEF
Saudi Arabia's call to concern causes oil price drop
VIENNA, Austria — Crude futures pulled back Monday from last week's record highs, falling $4.19 to $134.35 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, after the dollar strengthened and Saudi Arabia voiced willingness to meet any increase in demand.
Associated Press