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.

 

[Fintan]

For those of you with pesky deer problems, follow the link...

[Fintan]

You're always on the Finster's ping list, my little snapdragon...

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Thank you my little Pesto Pal.

[ken5050]

I trust I'm on Fintan's list......( BTEW, can we cover radished next time?..LOL)..but I think I'd like to be added to HLL's list..whatever it is.....(G)

[Carolinamom]

The FR Victory Garden thread is a great idea! Please add me to your ping list.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

You can be on my ping list anytime, big boy.

Can you send your deer over to the Clintons? It would totally freak them out. Are they ever home?

[basil]

What a nice thing for you to say! You certainly made my day--thank you.

[KateUTWS]

Ping me, ping me, teacher, please?

[KateUTWS]

Replying to my reply. After 40 years of marriage I finally asked my beloved just which foods he actually liked! Big mistake. He hates Basil.

I can't imagine tomatoes without it.

[AppyPappy]

I shoot the deer with my BB gun. After a while, they avoid the area. A pellet gun works better. A mean dog also helps.

[Corin Stormhands]

Please add me to your ping list. Thanks.

[andysandmikesmom]

With the spring here, and planting fever burning in my brain, I find the idea for this thread to be a wonderful idea...and growing herbs and having recepies for the use of different herbs is a special treat...

Please add me to any ping list concerning this thread...

I was so excited seeing this topic, that I have not as yet read the posts...so need to go back and do that...

I am especially interested in growing herbs in containers..and also will be especially interested to see if 'catnip' will be an herb which is discussed...my kitty loves catnip, so I thought he would enjoy having a few special catnip plants, placed at strategic places around the house...

This is great fun....

[Wednesday's Child]

I've been growing my own vegetables for many years, although I've never grown herbs. I would like to try it.
There's just nothing like walking out to the garden and picking peas or green beans and eating them right then and there! I will definately give the Basil and Tomato Bruschetta a try.
Thank you for starting this thread. Would you please add my name to your ping list ?

[Carolina]

Please add me to your ping list.

In anticipation of Racing Day, we have our mint ready.

[2Trievers]

Herbs rule! What a super idea Fin ... when I lived on the Farm, I grew 45 - 50 kinds. A kitchen door herb garden is so easy and handy! Once you've had one, you'll never want to be without!

We have on board the forum one of the most outstanding and knowledgeable purveyors of gardening seed in the country ... might I say the world. He is too modest, of course, to tell us that ... I'm sure he would be happy to field questions for FReepers ... he has NOTHING else to do all day, right Lone?

Fin ... you have FReepmail ... &;-)

[2Trievers]

My Labs are the best deterrent to those critters ... really. If you have enough property and can let the dogs free, the problem goes away! &;-)

[2Trievers]

"I am especially interested in growing herbs in containers..and also will be especially interested to see if 'catnip' will be an herb which is discussed...my kitty loves catnip, so I thought he would enjoy having a few special catnip plants, placed at strategic places around the house..."

Catnip loves neglect and lots of sun. It can run wild outdoors, like mint. I've not had much luck growing it indoors, it seems to get very straggly ... had an old tomcat who spent the whole summer sleeping in "his" bed of catnip.! Your cat will appreciate you for it! &;-)

[andysandmikesmom]

Thanks for the info about the catnip...I know that mints loves neglect, and gets out of control if let on its own, but did not realize that catnip is the same way....also interesting about its not doing well in the house...

My problem is, I cannot let my cat out of doors...when I got him, he was already declawed(horrors), and we have lots and lots of other cats around, as well as wildlife, and poor Dizzy would have no natural defense, being as he has no front claws...so he has to remain in the house...

But perhaps a few large pots of catnip, with several left outside, and some inside, and then rotating them from inside to outside, and outside to inside, at intervals, may be the way to go...

I have seen a pic of someones cat here on FR, crashed out, in a huge clump of catnip...My kitty is crazy over the dried catnip, so I figure he will be quite delighted with fresh catnip...

Again, thanks for the info...

[2Trievers]

Lots and lots of sun ... and don't forget good drainage in those pots. Rotating them is a good idea ... just make sure they have w-i-d-e bottoms, so when Dizzy climbs in, they won't tip over! LOL Hug Dizzy for me! &;-)

[andysandmikesmom]

Dizzy sends hugs back, hugs for the hints about his favorite herb, the catnip...now he is giving me orders, to get to the store and buy him his plants...ah, these cats, so demanding...