The most important thing to remember is that bay leaves are not edible because the leaves are extremely sharp and can cut your throat. You must take them out before serving. Oregano Oregano give you the best of both worlds. In dishes that are simmered for a long period, dried oregano is best. Fresh is better in dishes with shorter cooking times.
Fresh oregano has better flavor, but always remember to add fresh herbs at the end of cooking.
This is a herb that many people have in their home garden, so if you can get it fresh, try it. It can be added to any tomato sauce, especially to dress up canned spaghetti sauce. There is no argument here, fresh basil is best. The dried stuff loses a lot of the flavor when it is dried and can really only be used in long-simmered sauces. Basil that is fresh has an intense, musty-like flavor and is great for many uses.