You Asked...

A friend sent me this list of ways to use basil, and I thought I'd share it, since several folks have asked me about it.  I never used the fresh product, either, until we started growing it!  We've not had a nutrient analysis done on our basil, but we're sure it would come out very high!  Dark green = healthy, and our basil is grown without pesticides in an exceptionally  healthy environment.
(* Note:  I have not yet tried all these ideas...) 
 
1.  Add it to your salad. You will never tire of the surprise burst of flavour as
it melds beautifully with your traditional lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes.
2.  Replace the lettuce with basil in your next sandwich.
3.  Make basil butter. Chop a few fresh basil leaves (by hand or in a food
processor) and blend it with a pound of softened butter. Spoon it out into
baggies or freezer containers and freeze it in small batches, to be used year
round. Use basil butter to sauté meats, add it to your steamed veggies or serve
it with fresh bread at dinner.
4.  Freeze it! Set yourself up with as much fresh basil as you can stand. Snip the
leaves off of the stem, wash them well in cold water and spin them dry with a
salad spinner. Add a handful or two into a food processor and drizzle with a few
tablespoons of olive oil. Pulse. Add more olive oil if the leaves aren’t
processing well. Once you have a nice “paste” (but the leaves needn’t be
pulverized; simply well chopped), spoon the mixture into ice cube trays and
freeze them for a day. Then empty the frozen basil cubes into a large freezer
bag and keep them in the freezer. You can add fresh basil to your recipes all
year long!
5.  Pesto! Pesto! Pesto! Did I mention pesto? A simple yet delicious concoction of
basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, and salt mixed well in a food processor
will put a smile on anyone’s face at your table. Pesto freezes well and can be
used to flavour roast chicken, pastas and pizza, or served over rice or pasta.
6.  Make herbal vinegar. Place some fresh basil into a clean glass jar. Pour warm
(not boiling) vinegar over the basil and allow it to cool. Place a piece of
plastic wrap over the mouth of the jar before securing the lid on it. Store in a
cool, dry place. Replace any vinegar in your recipes with basil vinegar for an
extra zing of flavor! 
7.  Make flavored oil. In order to make herbal-flavored oil, you would follow the
same process as you would for vinegar. Place several sprigs of basil in a glass
jar. More flavour will seep out of the basil if you tear the leaves first. Pour
warm olive oil over the herbs in the jar and allow it to cool. Cover and store
in a cool, dark place. It will last up to 6 months.
8.  Basil makes a great marinade. Chop a handful of basil in a food processor. Add
some lemon juice, salt, olive oil, and garlic. Marinade your chicken or fish in
this delicious mixture and allow it to sit for at least 2 hours in the fridge.
Grill over low heat.
9.  Make basil bread. If you like to bake your own bread, coarsely chop some
basil and knead it into the dough before shaping the loaves. You can also add
garlic and olives, giving it a rich and unique flavour.
10.  Basil and eggs go together very well....try it in your next omelet!
11.  The smell of basil is supposed to be a stress-reliever.  In that case, we should be the most un-stressed people around!  Not sure I can vouch for that one...