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History
- Basil is a member of the mint
family, and was known as the herb of kings in ancient times. In
fact, its name may have been derived from the Greek word
basileus, meaning "king". The ancient Greeks and
Romans believed that you had to curse and yell while you were
planting basil seeds, to get a good crop, although that practice
has since been largely abandoned, at least by commercial
growers.
Basil protects from evil and
negativity, and aids in attracting and keeping love. It is used
for purification baths, and in wealth and prosperity rituals.
Carrying a basil leaf in your pocket brings wealth, and if
powdered basil is sprinkled over your mate while they sleep, it
is supposed to eliminate infidelity from your marriage.
Growing
Basil & Varieties
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Basil will grow in any well-drained, fairly rich soil, and full sun. It can be grown
throughout most of North America. It is an annual, which reaches
2-3 feet tall. Pinch off the tips to promote bushiness and
flower buds to maintain growth.
Sweet basil - have glossy leaves and
full basil flavor.
Lettuce-leaf basil - have
extra-broad leaves.
Bush basils - include 'Spicy
Globe', 'Bush', 'Tiny Leaf Purple', 'Green Bouquet', and 'Piccolo
Fine Verde'.
Lemon basil - have light green
leaves and a lemony fragrance. The leaves are great in vinegars,
potpourri, fruit salad, fish, poultry, and herb teas.
Purple basil - have purple foliage
and pink flowers. It brings a lot of color to the herb garden and
makes a wonderful red herbal vinegar.
Fragrant basils - for special kinds
of cooking and potpourri include purple-stemmed anise basil,
cinnamon basil, and Thai basil.
Thai basil - an annual
native to Thailand and Burma. It has a darker leaf than common
basil and a slight anise flavor. It is used extensively in Thai
and Indian cooking.
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Medicinal
- Basil is used to treat stomach
cramps, vomiting, fevers, colds, flu, headaches, whooping cough,
and menstrual pains. It is also used to reduce stomach acid,
making it a valuable part of any treatment for ulcers, and a
valuable addition to any recipe using tomatoes for those with
sensitive stomachs. Externally, it can be used for insect bites,
to draw out the poisons. It has been used in other countries to
eliminate worms from the intestines, and the oil from basil
leaves is applied directly to the skin to treat acne.
Cooking
- Scented basils add a unique
flavor to dishes and can be used to make jams, jellies and
vinegars and teas. Try making tea from basil, as you
would mint, for an after-dinner tea.
Basil goes well with other herbs,
spices, and flavorings, especially thyme, garlic, oregano, and
lemon.
Recipes
Angel
Hair Pesto Primavera
Asparagus
With Basil And Ricotta
Basil
Beer Bread
Basil
Pesto Sauce Over Pasta
Basil
Tomato Salad
California Goat Cheese Crepes with Sweet Onion Sauce
Famous Lemon And Basil Chicken
Grilled
Eggplant & Basil Vinaigrette
Ham-Basil Quiche
Lobster
Tabbouleh With Basil
Mozzarella
Tomato & Basil Salad
Mushroom, Strawberry and Cashew Spinach Salad
Nutty
Basil Pesto
Omelette
With Zucchini Tomato And Basil
Orange Basil Cookies
Orange,
Onion And Basil Salad
Penne
With Smothered Scallops, Tomato, Basil
Poached Fish
With Tomatoes And Purple Basil
Popcorn
With Basil And Sun-dried Tomatoes
Spiced
Pound Cake With Lemon Basil-Orange Syrup
Thai
Basil Beef
more
recipes with Basil
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