I love the aroma of basil and this little plant is giving off such a wonderful scent in my home today. Trader Joe's had a batch of herbs and I couldn't resist taking home this plant:
Basil is an excellent source of vitamin K, manganese, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. It's also a good source of calcium, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Basil isn't simply for internal use, when basil's oils are extracted to make an essential oil, it is used for treating cuts, wounds, and skin infections.
If basil plants grow in a cold place, they will probably die when there are any severe temperature drops; otherwise, they can live up to a year. One thing to keep in mind: you should try not to let your plant flower. They are pretty flowers, but they are also a sign that the plant is shutting down and going into reproduction mode instead of growth mode.
Harvest the leaves from the top down, cutting back up to a third of the total plant height. Be sure to cut or pinch right above a leaf pair rather than leaving a stub. In a few weeks, your plants will be ready to harvest again.
I love basil in lasagna, salads, bruschetta, caprese, egg dishes, strawberry basil salsa, cocktails, pizza, basil butter, melon salad, tomato soup and especially in this cocktail:
Muddle a few basil leaves and a few chunks of orange in a glass, add a shot of vodka, 3/4 lemonade and top with soda water to make a Orange Basil Mojo!
What's your favorite herb?
