Simple herbal gifts: a little cooking wreath

1. Small herb wreaths like this one can go directly into the soup pot, or you can hang one in the kitchen to be plucked from as needed.
2. Present them in plastic bags to hold their flavors and minimize their shattering.
3. Twist chive stalks into a 4- to 5-inch circle to form a base for the wreath.
4. Twist in sprigs of thyme, parsley, oregano, and marjoram and basil seed heads to fill out the wreath.
5. Add a single short sprig of rosemary or sage.
6. Let dry thoroughly; the wreath will shrink slightly.
7. Thread three or four dried chilis on sewing thread and tie around top of wreath.
8. Cover thread with a tie of kitchen twine or a narrow ribbon.