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Thursday, June 10, 2010
Good Afternoon, friends! You know, I was just browsing the net, and I found yet ANOTHER cool cooking site. It's called KitchenDaily and it's pretty cool. Lots of recipes, and articles. AND, for the cooking noob, the have a TON of "How To" articles and videos on anything and everything. check it out!
So today, I was thinking about herbs(I know, weird, right?)and I decided to do a feature on herbs and plants every day. So with that in mind, I will start with a very common herb that most of us use regularly: Basil.
Basil is an annual in the mint family, although in warmer tropical climates it can sometimes be a perennial. Most of us are familiar with basil primarily due to it's use in Italian cuisine. But basil is actually native to India and other parts of southeast Asia, and is used frequently in Thai, Vietnamese, Indian and Cambodian cooking.
Basil comes in many different types. Most of us, when we think of basil, think of Sweet Basil, which is the most common variety in the U.S. But there are many other varieties, such as Thai basil, Osmin Purple basil, Lemon basil, Holy basil, and Cinnamon basil, to name a few.
Most basils are used regularly in cooking. In Italian cuisine, basil is most often seen in sauces, garnishing pastas, and in pesto. In Asia, however, not only is basil used in food dishes, but also as a popular flavoring for drinks. These are mostly varieties like Sweet, Holy or Thai basil.
Other basils are often used as ornamentals in the garden, and some highly scented ones, like Lemon, Cinnamon or Licorice, are used in potpourris and to flavor jellies and honeys.
Basil is also used frequently by herbalists for it's medicinal qualities. In India, because of it's uses in Ayurvedic medicine, basil was considered a sacred herb. The seeds of Holy Basil were used as a laxative, soothing mucous membranes, and treating diarrhea. The leaves were used to treat indigestion and skin diseases. In Thai medicine, the leaves are used also for coughs and intestinal problems.
Some modern medical studies have also indicated that the leaves and seeds of Holy and Hairy Basil helped people with Type-2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. It is also been found to be a carminative herb(and herb that relieves flatulence and gas pain).
Basil essential oil has also been shown to have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties, making it an excellent herb oil to use in green cleaning mixes.
This herb is very cold sensitive, and should never be planted in the ground until all danger of frost is past. It should be grown in full sun, and ideal needs well-drained soil, although I have found that it's usually happy to grow pretty much anywhere as long as it has ample sunshine and water. Basil can either be transplanted, grown from seed, or rooted as a cutting. since it IS a member of the mint family, if you allow it to go to seed, it will self propagate.....everywhere. I do this with mine every year, and every fall I have dozens of seedlings that I then dig up right before frost and pot,and keep indoors over the winter to sell in the spring.
So there you have it, my friends. Basil: one of the world's most versatile herbs.
I apologize for posting this so late; it's been a busy day, including a trip to the emergency room with a friend. I promise I will try to post earlier in the day from now on! Since we've discussed basil, Today's Recipe will be an Easy Pesto.
MandaMac
For more information on the medicinal uses of basil check out "Gift From Mother Nature, Tulsi(Indian Basil)" a guest post on Yoga Nexus by GUEST Wellness Provider: Mahendra aka Briksha
For more information on the medicinal uses of basil check out "Gift From Mother Nature, Tulsi(Indian Basil)" a guest post on Yoga Nexus by GUEST Wellness Provider: Mahendra aka Briksha
Easy Fresh Pesto
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed tightly
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup pine nuts
3 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine the basil, pine nuts and garlic in a food processor. Pulse a few times. Slowly add the olive oil while the food processor is on. Stop every now and then to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Makes 1 cup.
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1 comments:
Wow, I had no idea basil was part of the mint family! Also, I'm pretty excited to try this Pesto recipe- pesto is pretty much my favorite thing e.v.e.r. :)
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