8/7/11

Basil- it’s what’s for dinner!  Basil is by far my favorite herb to cook with. I love it for its fresh earthy licorice-ness. I find it has the most flavor when served raw or when added to a cooked dish at the very last minute. Heating it seems to destroy it’s flavor. And dried basil, just forget it. I usually pick up a fresh bunch of it at the grocery store, stick it in a pint glass with some water, and set it on the window sill over my kitchen sink…. then it’s at my fingertips to pluck off a couple leaves and throw them in whatever. I love adding basil to salads, sandwiches, omlettes, you name it. I had my family over for dinner a few nights ago and cooked a meal that included basil in all these courses… bruschetta and olive tapenade for appe, creamy pesto pasta for dinner, and the margherita pizza ended up being a late night snack. Dessert that night was my sister and brother-in-law’s 1 year old wedding cake but I did see a recipe by Giada De’Laurentis for Basil Cheesecake I’m dying to try…

1 c. green olives with pimentos

1 c. black or kalamata olives

4 sundried tomatoes

1 T. capers

1 clove garlic 

1 T. olive oil

5-6 basil leaves

few sprigs of fresh parsley

Using a food precessor, combine all ingredients except olive oil and pulse until very finely chopped. Drizzle with olive oil.