Last week, our friend Korb gave us a basil plant. We’ve only had it for a little while, but I’ve already found that there is something really wonderful about growing something that you can eat. It grows and replenishes itself, providing tasty, never-ending enhancements to soups, stews, and pastas, and all it asks for is a bit of care and attention. Every morning, before I start my day, I check its soil to make sure it has enough water, and I open the blinds to let the sun in to kiss its leaves. We’ve been using it up every chance we get, and it just keeps on giving. I am sort of in love with it.
The green is so pretty and does wonders to brighten up the kitchen counter.
Korb uses his basil to make homemade pesto. He gave us some (friends are the best!) and we used it to make a simple pasta dinner with sauteed mushrooms and spinach on a busy night last week. It was so yummy.
Although we haven’t yet worked our way up to making our own pesto, this weekend Alan whipped up a hearty one-pot meal of chicken and dumplings which I elaborately garnished with fresh-picked basil. 😉 It was a perfect complement to the rainy weather we were having and was a welcome change from all the turkey and taters we’d been eating.
this pasta dish looks yummy, you'll have to post the recipe, I'm always looking for easy yummy dinner (preferably involving pasta) 🙂 xx
The picture of the pasta dish makes me hungry. It looks delicious.
Yay! I'm lucky enough to get to enjoy Korb's cooking on a regular basis, and I'm glad you're benefitting from him sharing his herbs & cooking know-how! Fresh herbs are the way, we have quite a variety growing right out on our balcony. That pesto was awesome, I'm glad you guys enjoyed it!
I love love love basil! I miss when we had herbs growing on our window sill, not like I took care of them, I have far from a green thumb. The food looks delicious!
i had one of those plants and it died 🙁 this makes me want to try again!
thanks, michelle!! you are one lucky gal 😉 i have my eye on chives next and alan wants cilantro.
marie, it was super easy: just sautee garlic and scallions in a bit of olive oil, throw in your mushrooms, then spinach and toss over pasta with pesto sauce.
Krystal and Danielle — it may be a good time to try again, perhaps as a new year's resolution? 😀
Oh, I see the beginnings of an herbalist! My first herb plant was a thyme in about 1988….I've been planting herb gardens ever since! I have been in love with herbs because of how wonderful they smell, taste and even the way they look!
I definitely agree! I am starting to see how people could be really into farming/planting vegetable gardens.
Haha, guess I should have brought my basil plant indoors cause the first frost killed it! Good luck with yours. I think I'll get another one when it warms up again:)
I love having herbs in my kitchen! You're right that it's nice to have something fresh to throw in your food, & the ambiance it gives is so lovely. I'd highly recommend some mint to throw in yummy beverages, especially in the spring/summer. I'd also like to try growing my own lettuce!
Goregeous food and I adore your blog!!! Putting on my daily reads. LOVE, xxxx to you Emily
Aw, thanks so much, Styleforlife!!