Flowering Basil
I checked on the basil a day ago and all was well. Today it flowered! Maximum production requires more pruning then I realized. The flowers are pretty but the prize on the basil plant are those delicious leaves. They are at their best, before the flower.
One of my favorite uses for basil is caprese salad, made with basil, mozzarella and tomatoes. It’s also delicious in pesto.
So when the sun goes down, the pruning shears come out. Can’t you just smell it?
How to make Caprese Salad.
Easy Pesto: Step by step
How to dry Herbs: I’ll stick with it fresh, but all you cooking gurus can give this a go.
Gardening Nirvana 
Ooh, I love the smell of fresh basil! I actually have a bunch in my kitchen not far from me right at this moment, awaiting its use in pesto. I enjoy making my own pesto, as it’s so easy — As most recipes call for Parmesan cheese, I “veganize” mine by using a non-dairy substitute made by Galaxy Nutritional Foods. It works perfectly, and no one can tell the difference. Besides the popular uses for pesto, such as on pasta or bread, I like to stir it into my tofu breakfast scramble along with veg sausage, assorted veggies, and Daiya vegan cheese. Yum!
I’ve also found that basil pairs well with strawberries, and have been delighted by this combination in some innovative cocktails. Cheers!
Enjoy your bounty!
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Oh yum. Many years ago my former boyfriend’s roommate used to make me fresh pesto. She was a gardener as well. It was delicious.
I love the way you’ve found to modify all your meals to make them vegan. Good for you!
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Ours started to flower last week. I read an article somewhere where to prune it so you get big bushy plants. (Just above two teeny tiny leaves.) I cut so much, we made a large bowl of pesto and froze it. Checked on my plants again this morning and they are bushy AND flowering again. If only I had some ripe tomatoes…..
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I know, right? Our tomato plants are healthy but just starting to flower. Thanks for commenting, Barbara.
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It’s a lovely photo of a beautiful plant! It is amazing how quickly they sneak out the flowers. I’m off to read your recipe…
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I would love to have one of those time-lapse cameras in the garden, once the temperatures heat up. Everything seems to double or triple its growing speed.
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Yes, the bane of plants that shouldn’t be flowering!
Basil with fresh tomatoes, garlic and salad on bruschetta is a favouriate of mine.
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I love that one too!
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