| LadyWillow |
| (member) |
| 28/04/2008 17:13 |
A tip for all basil lovers
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Grow a pot of basil and let it run to flower. Then cut off the flowers and place in a screw cap bottle ... top up with some scrummy extra virgin olive oil (the best you can afford) and lay it down in a dark place. Half turn the bottle a couple of times a day.
You will end up with the most gorgeous basil-infused olive oil... wonderful for salad dressings and for cooking with.
Don't leave the flowers in the oil indefinately as they can turn mouldy.
| lulubells |
| (member) |
| 28/04/2008 17:36 |
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Re: A tip for all basil lovers
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Great tip, thanks ladywillow, shall let you know how it goes, got anymore great tips like that
| RachelS |
| (member) |
| 28/04/2008 19:01 |
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Re: A tip for all basil lovers
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Sounds like a great idea LadyWillow and so easy will definitely try it.
| Chatelaine |
| (member) |
| 29/04/2008 09:40 |
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Re: A tip for all basil lovers
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Being an avid olive oil lover, this is such an easy way to enhance this lovely golden liqued even more. So, I am definitely going to do that!!
Thanks for reminding me (us)of this LadyWillow! Our local garden center is really quite ace (do miss a coffee shop there though
), and plan to buy this weekend some garden hardy herbs and put 'm out in containers. The salad is already thriving, so, get some more nice food stuffs to cultivate, and create my own "herb garden" Do not find the pots for sale at the supermarket are up to much.... they've repeatedly died on me....
| SusiQ |
| (member) |
| 29/04/2008 09:57 |
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Re: A tip for all basil lovers
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I'd not tried that with the flowers - good tip and the oil must be delicious.
You can also put opened tiny chili peppers into oil and leave as long as you like, the longer, the stronger!
Homemade pesto is also much nicer than shop bought, Basil, grana or parmigiano, pine nuts or walnuts, and oil and a very little garlic. You should use a pestle and mortar but I whizz it if I don't have time (you can taste the difference though). Quantities depend on personal taste. Yummy though. Also yummy when added to a little ricotta and some tomato sauce (the homemade pasta kind) for a pasta dish with kick and creaminess.