cheerfull chives (Chives)

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Chives
Date:	24/05/02 (568 review reads)
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Advantages: easy to grow, tasty, .

Disadvantages: ., ., .

Yes I have told you how I grow basil and what I do with it now I shall tell you how I grow chives, and some of my favourite recipes. I find chives a very use full herb to grow. You will find chives very easy to grow and very handy to have. Chives add just that something little extra to cheese, eggs, and summer salads.

You can grow chives both indoors and outdoors.
I have a pot on my windowsill in the kitchen, very handy when I want to add a few to a salad. Also I can keep a pot growing indoors in winter.
I have a row of chives growing as an edging to my herb garden.
Chives are a hardy perennial they grow to a height of 26cms. Chives have hollow grass like leaves and pretty purple flowers that bee?s find attractive. There are variations available garlic chives have a mild garlic taste and white flowers. Chives are very, very easy to grow. You can buy chives in pots from supermarkets or garden centres, but its much more satisfying to grow your own

How to grow chives outside.
Chives make a wonderful low edging to your herb garden ,all those fresh green grass like leaves and pretty purple and white pompom flowers.
First prepare your soil by digging lightly and removing weeds. Then make a shallow seed drill about 1/4inch .05 cm deep. Sow the seeds not too thickly and cover with fine soil, Water carefully and soon you will see little green leaves piercing the soil ready to add to your recipe?s.

How to grow chives indoors.
Place a layer of grit/stones/broken pots in the bottom of a plant pot for drainage. Then nearly fill the pot with non peat based compost . Sprinkle chive seeds thinly on the soil, and then cover the seeds with fine compost and water .If you keep them watered you will be rewarded by chives for your favourite recepies.
You can keep the chives on your windowsill near to hand for adding as a something extra to your egg or soft cheese sandwiches.

You could grow chives in a larger pot on your p

atio .I think they look pretty in an earthenware pot.

Now here are some of my favourite chive recepies.Chives go well with egg, cheese, and ham and both leaves and flowers are a good garnish.

Chive and garlic bread.
Wonderful with a barbeque.
3cloves of garlic 2-3 tablespoons of chopped chives ¼ tsp salt 125 grams butter 1 French bread stick

Peel garlic sprinkle with salt crush with the flat blade of a knife, or crush in a garlic press. Soften the butter; blend in the garlic and chives
Slice into your French stick about every 2cms do not cut through.
Spread the garlic chive butter between slices covering both sides.
Reshape the loaf wrap it in foil.
You can either cook it in the oven at180c orgas mark 4 for 15 minutes or cook it over the hot coals of your barbeque for 10-15 minutes mmmmmm smells and taste good.

Cream cheese dip.
8oZ cream cheese, 1 tablespoon soured cream ,2 tablespoons chopped chives salt and black pepper, little milk.
Mix cream and cheese stir in chopped chives season with a little pepper and salt add a little milk to bring dip to required consistency
Good with bread sticks cheese straws, vegetable crudities (sticks of carrot, celery, cauliflower)

These are two of my favourite recipes including chives ,but I?m often adding chives to salads and sandwiches.
Happy gardening enjoy your chives.

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