|
The Culinary Side of Basil
By Brenda Hyde
If a person loves herbs, they love basil. It seems to be everyone's
favorite herb and the recipes that take advantage of this fresh
and spicy leaf are endless.
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 fare!
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, basil 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
in pots during warm weather and bring inside to grow in a bright
and sunny window when cold.
Using and Preserving Basil
Basil can be frozen, dried, or preserved in oil and it's delicious
however you choose to preserve it.
Basil is also available year round in most produce sections. Add
leaves to salads or sandwiches along with your lettuce. Add basil
to sautés or soups at the last minute to preserve flavor.
Basil is also wonderful in herbal vinegars. Try mixing it with
oregano and thyme.
|
The Medicinal Side of Basil
By Lucinda Jenkins
What a gift Mother Nature has given to us in the plant
basil. A wonderful pesto sauce can deliver so many healing compounds
that you could almost call it medicine.
Basil has 6 different compounds that lower blood pressure,
6 different compounds that have expectorat qualities, and several
compounds strong enough to kill warts.
Basil usefulness has been associated with the stomach
and the disorders of that organ. Lack of appetite, ulcers, gas and
vomiting have all been treated with basil tea in the past.
It has also been known to clean the breath and now
studies show that basil can actually prevent dental plaque.
According to the famous writings of Mrs. Grieve, "Basil
has been occasionally used for mild nervous disorders and for the
alleviation of wandering rheumatic pains- the dried leaves, in the
form of snuff, are said to be a cure for nervous headaches. An infusion
of the green herb in boiling water is good for all obstructions
of the internal organs, arrests vomiting and allays nausea. The
seeds have been reckoned efficacious against the poison of serpents,
both taken internally and laid upon the wound."
That's cool but personally, I think I would rather
go to the ER with a snake bite!
Try this if you have a wart: tape a fresh leaf of
basil to it. Change the band-aid every day and watch the wart disappear!
|
Note
from 
