Cooking with fresh herbs imparts an extremely wonderful flavor to the food. One such culinary herb, popularly used by Lebanese people is called 'thyme'. The different thyme herb health benefits has paved the way for its popular use in a wide variety of cuisine like soups, poultry, fish, bread, chowder, sauces and stews. Different types of thyme are available today such as the caraway thyme, creeping thyme, lemon thyme, etc. While thyme imparts flavor to the food, it does not overshadow or mask the effect of other herbs and spices added to the dish. Instead it blends well with the other herbs and spices, thereby enhancing the flavor of the dish. Besides imparting great flavor, the different thyme herb uses paved the way for its different uses across the globe. For example, it was used for embalming by ancient Egyptians, as incense in temples by ancient Greeks and also warding away nightmares in the European Middle Ages. Thus, the benefits and medicinal uses are known since ancient times. Thyme-Lemon Paste for Pasta Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons thyme (fresh)
• Grated Zest of 4 lemons
• 2 tablespoons parsley (fresh and chopped)
• 1 tablespoon freshly chopped chives
• 4 tablespoons chopped onions
• 3 tablespoons almond powder
• 2 cloves of garlic, diced
• ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup olive oil

Preparation Procedure Place the lemon zest, thyme, parsley, chives, onions and garlic into the food processor. Add almond powder, salt, white pepper into the mixture and blend well. While the blade is blending the ingredients gradually pour in the olive oil. Refrigerate this paste in a tempered glass paste for 10 weeks and then serve with pasta. Lemon Thyme Pita Chips Ingredients

• 1 Pita bread (plain)
• 1 tablespoon thyme leaves (freshly chopped)
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• 2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation Procedure Set your oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit and allow it to preheat. Next take the above mentioned ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix well. This paste can be used to prepare 4 pita breads! Cut the pita bread around the circumference such that the bread is divided into two full circles (not semicircle!). On their inner surface apply the prepared mixture. Using a sharp knife slice the pita circle applied with paste into 10 wedges. It's something like slicing a pie or cake. Similarly cut the other pita bread as well. Place these wedges on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Bake them until golden brown (15 -20 minutes). Once they cool down a little serve warm! Thyme Zucchini Ingredients

• 1 ½ lbs. Zucchini (small), chopped into sticks
• 6 branchlets thyme, freshly chopped
• 3 bunches of arugula (small), cut into strips
• 3 cloves of garlic, diced
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 14 oz canned tomato
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation Procedure In a pain, heat the olive oil over high heat and then add the zucchini strips into it. Saute for 4-5 minutes or until the sticks turn tenderly crisp. Now reduce the heat to medium and add the chopped thyme and diced garlic. Stir and allow the mixture to cook for a minute. Then add the arugula leaves and tomatoes and mix well. Raise the heat to high mode and allow all the liquid portion to evaporate away. Add salt and pepper to season and enjoy! Tomato Thyme Muffins Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons of freshly chopped thyme
• ⅓ cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Preparation Procedure Set the oven to 375 degree Fahrenheit for preheating. In a mixing bowl add flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. Mix and place aside. In another bowl pour the milk, olive oil and egg and whisk till a smooth consistency is obtained. Then add the tomatoes, thyme and cheese and stir till they blend into the mixture. Once this is done, add the flour mixture previously placed aside and mix till the ingredients blend. Dollop this mixture into 2 ½" muffin cups that have been previously sprayed with non-stick vegetable shortening spray. Just fill 2/3rds of the cup. Bake the muffins for 20 minutes and serve warm. Thyme herb imparts a really wonderful flavor to the dish prepared. So don't go looking for a thyme herb substitute if your recipe calls for thyme. Try out the above thyme herb recipes and discover for yourself the wonders of this excellent woody herb!