HISTORY: Chervil, Anthriscus cerefolium,a native of Europe and Asia was not mentioned in ancient texts. When early writers speak of chervil, they are generally referring to Sweet Cicely - Myrrhis odorata - which they called Sweet Chervil, but it is not related at all to Chervil.

GROWING INFORMATION: Chervil is a hardy annual with a very mild and pleasing flavor, tasting just slightly of licorice and parsley. If you have shady spots in your garden (and who doesn't?) try spreading the seeds of chervil there. Some of the seeds will germinate and grow. Once you have plants that have set seed, the plant spreads from shady spot to shady spot in your garden, but in a very gentle way. It's a cool weather plant, flourishing in the cool early days of spring and withering during the heat of summer. It is not "pushy with its neighbors" so you don't have to worry about weeding it out.

HOW TO USE CHERVIL: One rarely sees chervil mentioned in recipes new cookbooks. But it will come back into vogue one of these days. It is a very gentle herb and is best enjoyed with mild tasting foods such as eggs or a bland fish. One of my favorite ways is to make Coddled Eggs with Chervil, but it is nice to have it in salads and even punches or certain desserts.

CODDLED EGGS with CHERVIL
(with thanks to the new Joy of Cooking for the dishtowel idea for coddling)

4 eggs
4 custard cups
4 Tbsp butter
3 tsp finely snipped chervil

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Baking Dish large enough to hold 4 custard cups. Fold a clean dishtowel in such a way that it covers the bottom of the pan.

In a saucepan on top of stove, bring 1 quart of water to a boil. I don't own "egg coddlers" so I use porcelain custard cups and grease them very lightly by spraying with vegetable oil spray. Break an egg into each cup. Melt the butter. Pour Tbsp of butter on top of each egg and put 1 tsp of snipped chervil on top. Repeat with remaining cups. Arrange the cups on the dishtowel and carefully pour boiling water around the cups - to come within 1/2 way to the top of cups. Place baking pan in center of pre-heated oven and bake until the eggs are set.