Itinerant Muse

The Beauty of Homegrown Basil

  This is my herb garden sequestered on the very small deck of my second floor condo.  As you can see, my basil overflowth ~ so abundant, that although it may not be a Holy Basil, it surely is blessed by the gods of gardening herbs.  Keeping my basil company are a soon-to-be robust rosemary plant and a hardy peppermint that was ravaged by unknown vermins and is in a slow recovery growth.

The basil is the topic of interest here as this one pot beauty has given me incredible pleasure over the summer into the fall with basil flavoring every imaginable dish I serve, as well as homemade to-die-for pesto derived from an almost antique cookbook The Flavor of Italy by Narcissa and Narcisse Chamberlain published in 1965!

One recipe that I have tried ~ once again from my fav Food & Wine newsletter is Baked Shells with Pesto, Mozzarella and Meat Sauce.  I used bowtie pasta, my homemade pesto sauce and Asiago cheese, instead of Parmesan.  Totally delicious! 

I seved it with a warmed loaf of rosemary olive bread and a rich Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, Calina Reserva 2006.

What a perfect dinner for a cool early fall dinner!

Buono Appetito!

Holy Basil ~ Holy Cow, is it a miracle herb?

I love receiving The Dish for its informative food and beverage information and its recipes.  Last week, I prepared Thai Chicken with Basil. The recipe called for Holy Basil as the most authentic choice.  Now I have done extensive culinary research and worked in food-related public relations for more than 20 years, but I have never heard of Holy Basil!

Being a bit unsettled by my ignorance, I did my research and found some truly amazing facts.  Holy Basil or tulsi (Ocimum sanctum),native to India, is considered sacred by the Hindus and the most sacred plant in Ayurvedic medicine.  Its uses and health benefits are wide spread ~ from use as a rejuvenation drug to treating fevers, colds, malaria and diabetes.  Holy Basil extract, researchers found, is effective at protecting against free radicals (cancer-causing chemicals, which can attack key organs) and in treating respiratory infections, allergies and asthma.  It acts as an anti-oxidant, mosquito repellent and decreases stress hormones.  It also is a powerful anti-inflammatory similar to aspirin and ibuprofen.

Is this indeed a miracle drug?  My interests in Holy Basil are specifically for use in diminishing allergy and asthma attacks and its anti-aging properties.  Since I have yet to use the basil, I can't affirm personally any of the research.  However, I do intend to purchase a plant, which can grow indoors in cold weather, and will order the pure extract.  I found that the extract can be ordered online, as can the plant.  The plant is described as a clove-scented foliage with purple flowers.    

The Holy Basil plant can be ordered online from Glenbrook Farms and Logee's.

Thai Chicken with Basil & Chili Peppers

Summer Sabbatical

I'm back!  After 2 1/2 months of feeling like my brain was mush, my creative genes crushed into murky waters, and uninspired to write, I stopped on the eve of summer.  Searching for a full time secure job became a futile effort even though my credentials after 25 years in public relations are excellent, my accomplishments noteworthy, responses to my letters of interest and resume were few and far between.  Discouragement led to a blank head facing a blank PC screen ~ the "itinerant muse" became stuck in her own quagmire!

Needless to say, I still collected copious amounts of information from extensive research to eventually  write about here.  So tonight, I start anew, somewhat refreshed by the cool pre-fall air and the anticipation of my favorite season on the brink of blossoming with brilliant foliage, richly colored mums and crispy, chilly nights.

Stayed attuned to what I have discovered and unfolded over the summer months.  It should provide interesting food for thought ~ and consumption!