9.09.2013

Garden to Kitchen :: African-Blue Basil & Lavender Pesto

I was introduced to African-Blue Basil last spring, when I purchased a small start at the ECHO Farm plant nursery. Now, I can't imagine not having this lovely herb in my garden. My little plant has become a big producer over the summer - it can grow into a bush that's 4' around! The fragrant leaves are green on the top, and purple on the bottom, and it produces a pretty, lavender-pink flower that attracts all kinds of bees. This perennial basil is so easy to grow because it's drought tolerant, and you never have to pinch off the flowers, as it will never go to seed and die.
The leaves, flowers, and stems of African-Blue Basil are all edible, and have an earthy, clove-like flavor. I use it to enhance and garnish soups, salads, and roasted veggies, and I like to float the blossoms in tea or lemonade. I've also become especially fond of this basil's strong flavor in pesto. I recently promised to share my recipe for African-Blue Basil & Lavender Pesto... so here it is. Enjoy!
 
African-Blue Basil & Lavender Pesto
makes approximately 1 cup

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup raw, unsalted almonds
2 cloves garlic, chopped coarsely
2 cups fresh basil leaves & flowers, chopped coarsely and packed lightly
1-2 teaspoons dried lavender blossoms
Salt to taste
3/4 cup finely-grated parmesan cheese

Blend all ingredients, except cheese, together in food processor. Add oil or water to reach desired consistency. Stir in cheese.

2 comments:

Tara Omar said...

Hiv disease for the last 3 years and having hard to eat and cough are nightmares,especially the first year. At this stage, the immune system is severely weakened, and the risk of contracting opportunistic infections is much greater. However, not everyone with HIV will go on to develop AIDS. The earlier you receive treatment, the better your outcome will be.I started taking ARV to avoid early death but I had faith in God that i would be healed someday.As a Hiv patient we are advise to be taking antiretroviral treatments to reduce our chance of transmitting the virus to others , few weeks ago i came on search on the internet if i could get any information on Hiv treatment with herbal medicine, on my search i saw a testimony of someone who has been healed from Hiv her name was Achima Abelard and other Herpes Virus patient Tasha Moore also giving testimony about this same man,Called Dr Itua Herbal treatment.I was moved by the testimony and i contacted him by his Email.drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com . We chatted and he send me a bottle of herbal medicine I drank it as he instructed me to.After drinking it he ask me to go for a test that how i ended my suffering life of Hiv patent,I'm cured and free of Arv Pills.I'm forever grateful to him Doctor Itua Herbal Treatment..He assured me he can cure the following disease..Hiv,Cancer,Herpes Virus,Hpv,Pile,Weak Erection,Lyme Disease,Epilepsy,Glaucoma.,Brain Tumor,psoriasis, Cataracts,Macular degeneration,Cardiovascular disease,Chronic Diarrhea,Lung disease.Enlarged prostate,Osteoporosis.Alzheimer's disease,
Dementia. ,Bladder Cancer,Autism,Colorectal Cancer,Breast Cancer,Kidney Cancer,Leukemia,Lung Cancer,Tay tach disease,Non Hodgkin Lymphoma,Skin Cancer,Lupus,Uterine Cancer,Prostate Cancer, Seizures, fibromyalgia ,ALS,Hepatitis,Copd,Parkinson disease.Genetic disease,Fibrodysplasia disease,Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva,Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome,Stroke,Hpv,Weak Erection,Liver/Kidney Inflammatory,Men/Woman infertility, bowel disease ,Huntington's disease ,Diabetes,Fibroid.

fox said...

The guideline viability of a private look that can help you generally keep, prepared yourself just as cause segments diet system just as to perform like endeavors similarly as with dishwashing.samsung dishwasher heavy light blinking and draining