The Mighty Basil Bounty

   
   If you are a gardener growing basil, this time of year    is when the plant begins to really fill out and provide   you with a lot of aromatic abundance.

   So what are   some of the ways to use this garden        delight?. Let's see... how can I count the ways?
   How about 10 great ways to use up those beautiful       basil leaves?


1. BASIL INFUSED OIL
 This has so many uses- for your salad dressing, to make  your pesto with, or to use
 when when cooking.  At Preserving Your Harvest, they take you through two easy                  methods to make your own.

2.  INFUSED BASIL VINEGAR
 If you are making an infused oil, why not also try making a companion vinegar?  Red            Fern Farm gives a great pictorial, taking you through the entire process..

3.  SHARE THE WEALTH
 Still have more basil coming in- give it away to family and friends ,Unlike zucchini, no            one says no! Then they will come back asking for more.

4. WINTER FRESH LEAVES
 Want to save some basil for the winter? Freeze the leaves- Here is a trick I learned a few     years ago. Clean and dry the basil leaves, then place in a small jar with good quality             olive oil, just enough to keep the leaves wet. Place in the freezer. When you pull out your     basil in the dead of the winter, it will be fresh and green. If you just freeze your leaves           they will  retain their flavor but not their color.

5.  STOP THE ITCH
Crush a few fresh basil leaves to use as a herbal rub and topical treatment for insect           bites to reduce the itching and inflammation.

6.  MAKE A HERBAL TINCTURE
Make a herbal tincture with basil leaves to help relieve nervous conditions and induce         relaxation. Follow the steps at the Herbal Information Center to learn how to make a             herbal tincture..

7.  MAKE A HERBAL TEA
Make a herbal tea with fresh basil leaves and a few of the seeds. Basil is known as a             herbal aid in digestive issues. Studies show that basil contain anti-inflammatory and             anti-bacterial properties.

8.  RELAXING BATH
Need a relaxing bath?  Fill the tub with warm water than add a large handful of fresh           leaves to the tub.  The fresh aroma will awaken you senses and make you feel refrshed.

9. BASIL SALT
 At Birds & Bloom they show you how to make a basil flaovred salt, how wonderful it that!

10. BASIL PESTO
No list is complete without the addition of the yummy Basil Pesto.  This is how I make         mine. I don't measure, just create!  In the food processor I put a bunch of cleaned and         dried fresh basil leaves, the add a handful of pine nuts, a few pieces of peeled garlic and   a good sprinkling of parmasean cheese. Give it a few good pulses to roughly chop                 everything up. Then using a good quality olive oil, begin to drizzle it into the food                   processor, a little at a time.  Keep adding oil until you get it to the consistency you want.. 

​Either use it right away or store some for the rest of the year.  I lay out wax paper, then         drop a large tablespoon full of pesto down, leave a space and repeat.  When I have 3           tablespoons full I wrap it up and start another row.  After using up all my pesto, I then           wrap the wax paper in plastic wrap and put it into a baggie for the freezer. Don't forget to     date and label it.  Then later in the year when you want fresh pesto for whatever you are     cooking up, just take out the amount you need.

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