One of my favorite luxuries—and one that I urge everyone to try—is keeping a small herb garden. Not much space is needed; a windowsill, a few pots in a sunny corner, or a small patch just outside the kitchen door are all enough to put fresh herbs in your hands whenever you need them. Planting and growing herbs is very easy to do, and incredibly satisfying. All you need to do is give them sunlight and a little water; they, in return, will deliver flavor and freshness to every dish they touch. Soft herbs, those with a soft stem such as basil, parsley, tarragon, mint, cilantro, and dill, are used mainly at the end of cooking or as a garnish to preserve their fresh, delicate flavors. Hard herbs, which have woody stems and include rosemary, sage, thyme, and oregano, are typically added near the beginning of the cooking process, to …