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By Kelsey Gisi

Horticulture 211

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Oregano

Oregano is a common ingredient in many Italian, Mexican, and Spanish dishes. Think of spaghetti sauce, pizza, and marinara sauces flavored with oregano from your own garden! Oregano also offers some natural remedies for bodily ailments.

How to Grow It

Oregano is easily started from seed, so start indoors or plant outside 12 inches apart after the danger of the last frost has passed. This plant does very well in containers, so consider an indoor garden! Seeds will germinate within 8 to 14 days. Keep the seeds moist, but make sure they are in a well drained pot of area of your garden.

Harvest

When the small pink, white, or purple flowers appear, your oregano is read to be harvested. Cut the shoots away one inch from the center to assure bushy re-growth.

An Amazing Oregano Recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Combine the melted butter or margarine, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, oregano and garlic powder. Mix well.
3. Place chicken in an ungreased 7x11 inch baking dish. Pour the butter/oregano mixture over the chicken. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Baste juices over the chicken. Bake for an additional 15 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and serve the pan drippings over hot cooked rice, if desired.

oregano