Don't Screw with the Basil!

I was recently visiting my sister and her family. Knowing that they have a killer downtown farmer's market, I suggested we meet there to get some goodies and have lunch after. My family arrived first and I must say we were appalled by the price of fresh basil. Farmers were charging $3 for a small bunch. There were maybe six leaves on the bunch! Being a tight wad, I thought that I should share how easy it is to grow basil.

1. Go to your local fruit market or garden center and buy a tray of three plants. The cost is around $2.00.

2. Plant it outside in the ground or in a large pot.

3. Here is the important part---Leave it alone!! Basil doesn't want to be fussed with. I tell you this because I am a fusser. I want to baby the plants in a way that smothers them. My sweet husband has taken over the job of leaving the basil alone.

In a couple of weeks you will have hundreds of dollars worth of basil to sell at the farmer's market!

Here is my family's favorite basil recipe:

Bruschetta

Ingredients:

1. a loaf of good french bread, sliced
2. 3-4 fresh summer tomatoes, chopped (in the winter use Campari tomatoes)
3. 2 tbsp. of olive oil
4. 1/2 bunch of basil leaves chopped
5. 1 clove of fresh garlic cut in half
6. sea salt to taste

Combine tomatoes, basil, 1 tablespoon olive oil and salt. Set aside. Brush slices of bread with remaining olive oil and toast. You may do this in the oven on 400 degrees, in a skillet, or grill it. When the bread is toasted, rub slices with garlic. Top with tomato mixture.

It's amazing that something so simple could taste so great!