Herbs, either singly or in combination, may be used in a wide variety of dishes. Mint, for example, is not just for juleps and roast lamb, and sage is is not just for stuffing.

Herbs can be used in appetisers, soups, salad dressings, flavoured vinegars, butters, cheeses, sauces and jellies.

Here is a brief guide to the principal uses of the most common herbs, and what goes best with what: Beef: Garlic, onion, marjoram, rosemary, basil, tarragon, thyme, oregano, bay leaves.

Pork: Anise seed, basil, bay leaves, dill, garlic, ginger, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, safe, tarragon, thyme.

Chicken/veal: Bay leaves, dill, oregano, parsley, rosemary, saffron, sage, tarragon, thyme.

Lamb: Garlic, dill, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, basil, marjoram, mint, oregano.

Seafood: Bay leaves, marjoram, anise seed, basil, dill, oregano, parsley, rosemary, saffron, sage, tarragon, thyme.

Vegetables: 1. Green beans: Tarragon, dill, marjoram, basil, thyme. 2.

Tomatoes: basil, bay leaves, dill, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, thyme. 3. Carrots: Bay leaves, dill, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, tarragon, thyme. 4. Spinach: Basil, marjoram, mint, oregano, thyme.

5. Potatoes: Dill, coriander, marjoran, oregano, parsley, thyme. 6. Eggplant: oregano, bay leaves, basil, garlic, marjoram, rosemary, tarragon, sage, thyme.

Here are the various ways in which these herbs may be used: BAY LEAVES Appetisers: Tomato juice, marinated fish, artichokes or mushrooms.

Soups: Chicken, onion, gumbo, clam showder, tomato, vegetable, lobster bisque.

Meats/meat sauces: Beef stew, pot roast, sauerbraten, lamb stew, tomato and barbecue sauce.

Poultry/fish: Stewed chicken, spiced shrimp, poached fish, shrimp creole.

Desserts/baked goods: Custard sauce.

BASIL LEAVES Appetisers: Pizza, butter or cream cheese spreads, meat balls, marinated mushrooms.

Soups: Tomato, vegetable, lentil, pea, minestrone.

Meats/meat sauces: Pork, beef, veal, lamb, venison, tomato and barabecue sauce.

Poultry/fish: Duck, lobster, shrimp, chicken, turkey, stuffings.

Desserts/baked goods: Herb bread, waffles, croutons.

MARJORAM Appetisers: Meat balls, dips, cocktail pizza, tomato juice, marinated artichokes or mushrooms.

Soups: Onion, turtle, tomato, vegetable, spinach, Scotch broth, minestrone, mushroom.

Meats/meat sauces: Beef, veal, pork, lamb, variety meats, game, tomato and barbecue sauces.

Poultry/fish: Baked and broiled fish, spiced shrimp, crab cakes, chicken dishes, stuffings.

Desserts/baked goods: Waffles, herb bread, corn bread, croutons.

OREGANO Appetisers: Meat balls, dips, cocktail pizza, tomato juice, marinated artichokes.

Soups: Vegetable, tomato, minestrone, onion, chowders, lentil.

Meats/meat sauces: Hamburgers, meat loaf, veal, pork, lamb, beef, game, tomato and spaghetti sauces.

Poultry/fish: Chicken dishes, baked/broiled fish, tuna casseroles, stuffings.

Desserts/baked goods: Herb bread, rolls, waffles, croutons.

PARSLEY Appetisers: Cheese spreads, dips, marinated mushrooms and artichokes.

Soups: Garnish for most soups.

Meats/meat sauces: Pot roast, stews, hamburgers, meat loaf, veal dishes, tomato sauces, spaghetti sauces.

Poultry/fish: Cicken dishes, broiled/baked fish, spiced shrimp, stuffings, croquettes.

Desserts/baked goods: Savoury biscuits, waffles, rolls, dumplings.

ROSEMARY Appetisers: Liver pate m, tomato juice.

Soups: Vegetable, tomato, chicken, beef broth, minestrone, pea.

Meats/meat sauces: Stew, lamb, beef, venison, spaghetti, barbecue and pizza sauces, veal, rabbit.

Poultry/fish: Chicken dishes, baked and poached fish, spiced shrimp, stuffings.

Desserts/baked goods: Herb bread,fruit compotes, corn bread, dumplings, savoury biscuits.

SAGE Appetisers: Meat balls, chicken spread, cheese balls.

Soups: Minestrone, vegetable, tomato, chicken, chowders.

Meats/meat sauces: Stews, pot roast,beef, lamb, pork, venison, gravies, meat loaf, veal.

Poultry/fish: Chicken, duck, turkey, goose, fish, stuffings.

Desserts/baked goods: Waffles, dumplings.

THYME Appetisers: Liver Pate m, cocktail pizza, meat balls, tomato juice.

Soups: Vegetable, tomato, minestrone, clam chowder, chicken, gumbos, bouillabaisse.

Meats/meat sauces: Lamb, beef, pork, veal, game, variety meats, liver, gravies, barbecue and spaghetti sauces.

Poultry/fish: Chicken, turkey, duck, goose, baked/broiled fish, spiced shrimp, croquettes, stuffings.

Desserts/baked goods: Herb bread, dumplings.