i use it often in my kitchen.
mainly for pizzas.
my favorite recipe with basil includes whole wheat pesto pizza.
i'm making it friday night.
served with sparkling lemonade and a tossed spinach salad.
other basil usages i enjoy...
bottom layer of any pizza
stuffed pork chops
spaghetti sauce
pesto pasta
this basil stuff is expensive though.
i have yet to find basil sold in any form other than "organic."
if you put the word "organic" in front of something, it automatically means you are doubling the price by at least 50%.
i just read that nicole richie eats "only organic" when she's expecting.
i have not hopped on the "organic" train.
completely and utterly due to price.
i just can't see the effects of "organic" when my visa can swipe
6 bananas for the same price as 1 "organic" banana.
what does "organic" really mean?
less pesticides?
doesn't that mean more bugs?
tell me goddesses, PLEASE, there must be an "organic goddess" reading.
inform us, please!
we will not scoff.
just help our ignorance:-)
or tell us it's nothing other than something to make us feel more "hollywood" in our daily lives.
sometimes it's good to feel a little hollywood.
i hope i have not offended you if you are an "organic goddess." i think Nie was? educate us! until then, i'm chalking it up to "just more expensive."
while shopping in my favorite new found store (thank you keri),
SUNFLOWER MARKET,
i came across what my heart has been searching for since january.
BASIL PLANTS.
my very own.
i originally planned to buy seeds and grow them in our garden, but
HOT DOG
they are already ready for the picking!
i put 2, count 'em, 2 in my cart.
$10 total.
if you've ever bought basil you can tell by looking at my plants above that this was a snag of a deal.
so we'll see if this utah "fall in summer" weather will harvest a good crop.
until then, i'm storing them in my kitchen.
the smell is lovely.
i walk around the island to get to the living room just to get a whiff.
it's so relaxing.
a goddess moment of pampering.
the only problem with growing my own basil is that the only thing i know about growing basil is that they needs lots of sun.
come on weather, cooperate.
imagine the convenience of fresh basil just outside my door!
please weather, please.
think of the pesto!
wait, does this mean i'm "organic"??????
11 comments:
I LOVE basil, and use it a lot in my cooking. I think the whole organic thing basically means they used a different kind of pesticide, one that is a lot better for your body... one that is more natural and not full of harmful chemicals that can hurt your body. Also the organic vegetables supposedly have a lot more vitamin c, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus and significantly less nitrates then conventional crops (http://www.ioia.net/images/pdf/orgvalue.pdf)
I want to find that store, because basil is the best ever! I had a plant that actually lasted all summer, but then it died, and I managed to kill my other two plants. I am going to have to try it again. Thanks (yet again) for the inspiration! If you figure out a way to keep the alive please let me know.
I have a friend who is very big into everything organic and natural.. but the couponer in me just can't do it..I would cry at the increase in my bill :)
I've dabbled in the "organic" thing here and there ... and my husband thinks I'm weird. He says "Things were NOT before they WERE." And he's right. In all honestly, I'm sure there are some benefits, but not too many. I've even begun to see that these organic farms are having problems with bacteria and whatnot in their soil ...
Supposedly there is something called the "dirty dozen" in produce, and those are the things worth the splurge. Since I have no idea what they are, off hand ... I'm sure you can google it.
Personally, I think this all a fad.
I was talking about growing an herb garden right before I saw your e-mail about buying and now growing your own basil! This has inspired me! Keep me posted if you learn any new tricks!
organic is great...if you can afford it. Lots of us have no idea what happens to our food before it gets to us. It means no pesticides are used, also that your food is more natural and yes, more likely to have bugs. It may look a bit imperfect- but that's how it really should look. It is REALLY expensive, especially here where food is already more expensive than most of the country. I do it when I can- but just make sure you are washing your produce really well if you don't buy organic. But, we are all still alive and kicking and we didn't grow up on organic or have moms who went totally organic when they were pregnant!
I think growing your own DOES make you organic, unless you use pesticides, of course.
=)
Home-grown foods are the best, organic or not. I've heard that it's not worth paying extra for organic when it's something that you cook or peel. But, then again, I'm definitely no expert on organic. Best of luck with your basil. Your meals always sound so yummy.
Organic? I am not so sure what it means, but Levi says that we will not be hopping on "that hippy train" pardon the french;) But, I do know that I am soo JEALOUS of your ability to shop at Sunflower Market!!! My sister-in-law introduced me to it about a year ago, and I am always SHOCKED at how AMAZING the prices are!!! So enjoy it...for me;)
Yes, Organic foods are more expensive and I think we can all relate to wanting to save especially in tough economic times. However, Organic is important for many reasons. The U.S. has specific standards for "organic" certification, farmers and companies have to meet all of these standards to mark any product with the word "organic". These strict standards are part of the reason why the price point for these products is so much higher. Below, I have attached links to Wikipedia's definition of Organic Foods and the USDA's Organic Certification standards.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_food
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?navid=ORGANIC_CERTIFICATIO&navtype=RT&parentnav=AGRICULTURE
Basically, "organic" means no pesticides or hormones are used. It also means that animals are fed healthy balanced diets and are usually raised in a more humane environment. While produce is farmed sustainably (crops are rotated to prevent soil burnout, which is when all the nutrients are used from that spot of earth and the ground becomes useless for several years.)
Organic is good because it helps us control what chemicals, and hormones we put into our bodies while also helping to care for our planet.
I hope this was helpful :)
my dad farms and well, he has his strong opinions. lets just say there are more deadly naturally occurring things out there used o "organic" food in place of pesticides and herbicides like arsenic. Doesn't that sound yummy. I'm for home grown and conscious use of appropriate pesticides that are a lot safer than some dangerously used "naturally occurring" (i.e. not man-made) chemicals. I'm no expert and I'm sure there's different levels of organic but most (including myself) don't understand the difference. Ofcourse they use something to limit pests or the crops would be destroyed. Crop rotation isn't an organic fad concept. Its been practiced long time and part of getting best crop and providing nutrients to soil.
Organic-schmorganic. I say just grow your own garden, plant enough for you and the birds(and bugs) and enough to share, and it'll all turn out ok. And well if it is inexpensive enough eat organic-whatever makes your bum hum
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