The FR Victory Garden/4.21.02

Seeds of Knowledge ^ | April 2002 | Brenda Hyde

[Fintan]

I'd like to start what I hope will be a new and popular feature here at Free Republic...The FR Victory Garden.

We'll start this week with one of the most popular and easiest herbs to grow: Basil!

So please enjoy, make suggestions, and share your recipes!!!

  

Basil: Everyone's Favorite Herb!
By Brenda Hyde of SeedsOfKnowledge.com

 

If a person loves herbs, they love basil. It seems to be everyone's favorite herb and the recipes are endless that take advantage of this fresh and spicy leaf. I personally think if you can only grow two plants it should be a pot of tomatoes and a pot of basil. With these two plants and a few basic pantry items you can treat yourself to gourmet faire!

Growing Basil

Basil is an annual, and is easily grown from seed. There are over two dozen types of basil including lettuce-leaf which has large leaves, cinnamon basil and the purple leafed varieties. Basil is not frost tolerant at all, so be sure to only plant after the soil has warmed completely. Though it needs full sun, it does need more moisture than some herbs, so keep it watered; especially in pots. You can bring basil inside as a window herb if you plant the seeds during the warm weather in pots and bring inside to grow in a bright and sunny window.

Using and Preserving Basil

Basil can be frozen, dried, or preserved in oil. It's delicious however you choose to preserve it. Basil is also available year round in most produce sections. Add leaves to salad or sandwiches with your lettuce, saute at the last minute with almost any vegetable and add to soups. It is also wonderful in herbal vinegars mixed with oregano and thyme. The following recipes are just a few of the many you are sure to run across!

Recipes

This wonderful mayonnaise can be used for burgers, sandwiches, or to coat chicken before roasting.

Basil Mayonnaise

Ingredients:
1 cup loosely packed basil leaves
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Blend in food processor or blender until smooth.

Basil and Tomato Bruschetta

Ingredients:
12 pieces crusty Italian Bread, 1 inch thick
1/3 to 1/2 cup olive oil
2 large, ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
24-36 basil leaves, torn into small pieces
12 garlic cloves, peeled, and cut in half lengthwise
salt and pepper

Toast bread over a grill or a very hot oven of 425 degrees. Brown on both sides. Remove and brush with oil. In a bowl combine tomatoes, oregano and basil. Place cloves in separate bowl. Serve bread warm and rub garlic cloves on bread, top with mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

I also sprinkle and with parmesan cheese and put under the broiler for just a minute to heat top.

Basil Puree

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons olive oil
8 cups washed and dried basil leaves

Blend until pureed. Transfer to clean jar. Store in refrigerator. Each time you use it stir and then top with a thin layer of oil. It will keep one year by doing this. This is good on grilled chicken or fish, stirred into soups or mixed with sun dried tomatoes and broiled on bread.

Walnut and Basil Paste

Ingredients:
1 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves
3 cloves garlic, peeled
3/4 cup walnut pieces
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons red wine or herb vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil

Place the basil in the work bowl of a food processor. With the motor running, drop in the garlic and process until basil and garlic are finely chopped about 15 seconds. Add the nuts, cheese, vinegar and oil. Process to make a rough paste, about 20 seconds. Smear evenly onto poultry, fish or vegetables just before grilling. Makes enough for about 2 pounds of poultry or fish.

Basil Butter

1 stick butter, softened
1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. salt
pepper to taste
1 tablespoon finely chopped basil

Cream butter, beat in garlic and lemon juice. Mash in basil; season with salt and pepper. Place bowl in refrigerator to firm butter. For a nice, simple appetizer use room temperature butter on grilled pieces of baguette or French bread.

About the author:
Brenda Hyde is editor of Seeds of Knowledge, a freelance writer, cook, gardener and Mom. Growing and using herbs has become one of her favorite things.

 

[Maceman]

Grow this

[ken5050]

Good idea for a thread..I've long grown my own herbs.....though the deer population here makes a garden impossible..unless I want a small scale version of Camp X-ray in my yard......

I eagerly await the discussion on composting...

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Are you going to maintain a "ping" list?
If so, add me please.

[riley1992]

Yep, that's my favorite herb. Makes everything taste better.

[Tennessee_Bob]

You're going to cook with this??

[Tennessee_Bob]

Before I go into detail about how to keep the deer out of your garden, is there a zoo nearby?

[ken5050]

Yes...there is a zoo next door...the Clinton's house...

Re deer.....nothing works....believe me, we've tried it all....this is a no hunting zone..we are unundated with deer, they are fearless....we've done the soap, the urine....all of it....nothing works.....I have 20-30 deer going across my property every morning to drink in the pond....in the winter, I've seen hoofprints on the PORCH..they come up to climb behind the nettig that protects the bushes.....so I gave up on the garden years ago....I don't wanna feed the critters....

[Tennessee_Bob]

When we had our big garden we had a problem with deer until we went to the zoo and got a load of lion manure. That kept them out of it. And we live in a pretty heavy deer area. They've been out grazing in the yard when I go outside to smoke, and they just look up and and go back to grazing. But when we had the garden, the lion manure kept them out of it.

[Fintan]

My pleasure to add your name to the Ping List...

[PoisedWoman]

But when we had the garden, the lion manure kept them out of it.

FOTFLMAO.....Clinton manure would work even better! But poor Ken would drop dead in a hurry. Talk about toxic waste!

[Budge]

After all these years I have finally decided to try to grow a few herbs.

Looking forward to the Victory Garden!

[Budge]

Add my name to your ping list too, please!

[Endeavor]

Fintan, please add me to your ping list. Thanks - E

[another cricket]

Please put me on the ping list too.

It was in the low eighties last week so I figured that it was safe to put my little herb/flower/berry garden out on the patio.
It snowed yesterday and last night. Thank heavens for grow lights or I would have no plants at all.

a.cricket

[My back yard]

Basil: Everyone's favorite herb.

And one of my favorite freepers!

[CARDINALRULES]

Ping

:-`)

[basil]

How nice of you to start with my favorite herb!!! I love this idea, so keep me on your ping list, please.

I also have a severe deer problem, so will be looking forward to hearing the solutions that Freepers have found. I have to grow my basil in a pot on our upper deck. Seems to be one of the few places the deer can't reach--LOL!

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Please add me to your ping list, and send sunshine.

[illstillbe]

Fintan ... could you please put me on your *ping* list?! I have only lately sold my landscaping business ... and I would surely enjoy the conversation here!