Are you looking for ways to make healthier meals without giving up flavor? It can be as simple as adding a few herbs to your favorite dish instead of salt. Or cut the amount of sugar by adding items like vanilla and cinnamon.

Making small changes, such as using herbs and spices, allows you to try new flavors and seasonings you may have never considered. You can be creative and let your taste guide you when cooking with herbs and spices. However, knowing when to add them and how much to add will allow you to enhance the flavor without obscuring it.

To learn more about adding herbs to your meals, join the University of Illinois Extension for Culinary Herbs 101, where we will discuss helpful tips for purchasing and storing herbs. Learn how to preserve herbs to enjoy throughout the year. Also, we will talk about when and how many herbs should be added to a dish to maximize flavor. Plus, we will have tasty samples and delicious recipes.

Culinary Herbs 101 will be held Wednesday, July 31, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Freeport Public Library, 100 E Douglas St, Freeport, IL. Register for this program by calling the U of I Extension at (815) 235-4125 or visit us online. Registration is $5.

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this program, please call (815) 235-4125.