Marjoram and sausage pasta

Marjoram is my favorite herb in the kitchen! I adore it!

Marjoram and sausage pasta

Ingredients:
*10.5 oz. rigatoni
*9oz. sausages
*2tbsp. olive oil
*1 large red onion, roughly chopped
*2-3 cloves garlic, minced
*1 small eggplant, diced
*3 small zucchini, diced
*2 cups tomato pasta sauce
*1 tbsp. fresh chopped marjoram (or, I suppose, if you must, oregano)
*1.5 oz. black olives
*9oz. cherry tomatoes
*2 tbsp. chopped parsley
*marjoram leaves and Parmesan cheese for garnish

Directions:
1) Cook pasta in boiling water until it is al dente, approx. 10 minutes. Drain.
2) Grill sausages until brown. Cool slightly, then cut into thick slices.
3) Heat oil in saucepan over moderate heat. Fry onion until starting to color, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and sausages, cook a few minutes.
4) Increase heat and add eggplant and zucchini, cook and stir for 5 minutes, or until eggplant begins to soften.
5) Add tomato pasta sauce, marjoram, and seasonings. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, or until eggplant is tender.
6) Stir in olives and tomatoes. Cover and cook an additional 5 minutes. Combine pasta and sauce in a large bowl. Stir in parsley. Sprinkle with additional marjoram and Parmesan. Enjoy!

Recipe located in: Reader's Digest, The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs, pg. 81.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Sweet Marjoram

Name:
*Sweet Marjoram (Origanum marjorana)


Description:
*perennial
*best in zones 5-9
*from the Oregano family, I prefer the taste of Marjoram to Oregano, so I am posting information on this plant instead. Oregano grows in similar conditions as Marjoram, so you can use this information for your Oregano plant as well.

Parts Used:
*leaves and flowers, both fresh or dried

Position:
*full sun
*well-drained soil
*this plant grows well in stony places

Propagation:
*you may propagate from seed. First, use cold stratification for 1 week and then sow indoors in seed flats/trays. Make sure to heat the bottom of the trays at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
*you may also propagate from tip cuttings, make sure to use a liquid rooting hormone for best results

Maintenance:
*once the plants are established, do not over-water them.
*cut back old growth in the spring
*this plant is very resistant to pests and diseases
*trim after flowering to prevent plants from becoming straggly

Harvesting:
*can be harvested fresh as needed, but the flavor is enhanced if you dry it in bunches in a dark, dry, warm, well-ventilated place for several days. When dry and crisp, rub leaves off the steams and store in airtight containers

Medicinal:
*an infusion of this herb is a remedy for fevers, coughs, colds, and flus.
*it also relieves flatulence, improves digestion, and treats intestinal infections
*Oregano is better than Marjoram for medicinal purposes, but Marjoram will help as well
*Chew a leaf for temporary relief from a toothache

Cooking:
*its' aroma is damaged by heat, so use in uncooked or lightly cooked dishes or add it at the end of cooking
*Oregano can withstand heat better than Marjoram
*both go well with lemon, garlic, wine, meats, fish, salads, beans, tomato-based dishes, and sauces

Misc.:
*these plants look great in containers, but make sure not to over water
*marjoram can be grown indoors
*these plants can be grown in order to attract butterflies and bees

For additional information, see: references and warnings