Hooked on Basil
by Bettyann Kaiser

Common or Sweet Basil, with its wonderful aroma and flavor, is one of the most popular and widely grown herbs valued for both its culinary and aesthetic appeal.  The powerful fragrance of Basil has a history beyond the garden and kitchen.  In India, the Basil plant is sacred to both Krishna and Vishnu and is cherished in every Hindu house.  Every good Hindu goes to his rest with a sprig of Holy Basil on his breast.  This is his passport to Paradise.  In Italy, Basil was once a traditional sign of love.  Young girls would wear Basil in their hair when out looking for "mister right."  Centuries later the Italians used ground Basil in very popular love potions. It must have been a big hit, because pretty soon they were putting Basil in everything they ate!  Here are some tips and recipes to use now. You really don't want to waste any of this wonderful herb. Follow some of these tips and you will be enjoying Basil in the winter. 

Harvest

To get the largest yield and best quality and flavor, harvest Basil just before the flowers develop. This will prevent premature flower spikes that will produce seeds and shorten the life of your plants.  Pick leaves from main stem or branches just above the suckers growing in the leaf nodes.  Keep the plants pruned by pinching flower buds off with your fingers. Flavor changes begin to take place in the leaves when the flowers open, robbing the leaves of their essential oils. It is best to pick Basil after the morning dew.

Preserving Basil

Wash leaves and allow moisture to dry.  You can use a salad spinner to do big batches.

Oven Drying ~ Spread the leaves out in a single layer on a cookie sheet.  Set the oven to the lowest possible temperature until the Basil has completely dried. Keep checking it. 

Hanging ~  You can tie leaves in small bunches of three to five stems, securing them with a rubber band.  Hand the bunches upside down in a warm, dark place for two to four weeks.

Betty's Method ~ The easiest way I have found to dry Basil is simply pull plants out of the soil.  Tap off as much of the dirt as possible.  Then simply slip the plant into a brown paper bag, such as a lunch bag or if your plants are large, use a large brown paper bag from the grocery store.  Leave the root part out of the bag, this the the part you will clip a clothes pin on to hang.  Plus, it will keep the dirt off the plant.  Poke some holes in the bag for air circulation.  Hang in a warm place for a few weeks.  The bag will keep any dust or dirt of the plant while it's drying.  Any leaves that fall in the drying process will be collected in the bottom of the bag.