I made Ina Garten's Pasta, Pesto, and Peas last night, and it was delicious. I served it as a side with grilled cod, but it would make a great main dish with some grilled chicken or shrimp added. It's served room temperature, so it's good for a cookout, although it does have a small amount of mayo in it.

I made the pesto using her recipe and the fresh basil from my herb garden. It was pretty comical because I don't have my full sized processor in this tiny kitchen, so made it in batches with my mini-prep. My kitchen was a complete disaster by the time I finished, but the end result was worth it.

sounds delish! I can't wait for the basil to grow here!

Got some on my front porch now! It's actually kind of fading as it has gotten too warm. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

Carol,
You can pulverize it in your food processor, cover with oil and store in your freezer. That way you have "fresh" basil whenever you want!
Mine is getting tossed tomorrow. Going to plant the flowers/seed and it will come back.
Cheers
irina

You just re-plant every few months?

Hey, I've got a hubby who doesn't like basil too much (can you believe it?), so I make a pea pasta sauce that is very good, with bacon! I was inspired by Rachel Ray's recipe, but it's a bit different (better!). http://gotitcookit.blogspot.com/2011/05/pasta-with-green-pea-bacon-and-parmesan.html

Carol no! LOL
When it goes to seed, it forms white flowers on the tips.
You can snip those off and plant them and another plant comes up! This guy died and reseeded itself in it's pot.
Moving it so I can plant my Rosemary in there. Rosemary needs bigger pot.
LOL
Cheers
irina

Irina, I never knew you could plant the flower heads! I have lots of purple flowers on my Thai basil now; think I'll give your trick a try! Will post results (if any......

That's amazing... I always just chop the flower heads back so the plants will make more leaves! I grow basil year-round, (indoors in winter) and being able to have some baby ones underway at all times would be WONDERFUL! Do you have to dry the flower heads before planting?

Anyone have any hints on how to keep parsley from bolting? I have lots of stems & flowers & hardly any leaves!

That pea pesto has my name all over it! Though I ADORE basil, I don't like pesto at all (can't have nuts, so maybe the lack of them affects the flavor?), and I can't get enough peas! YUM, thanks! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

LOL This happened to us when we lived in SXM. We pinched off the "flowers" and tossed them in another pot and it grew! We didn't know either. Been doing it since. And No, I don't dry them.
Just planted scallions! Cut the root part off a store bought one, put it in water, roots grew and I planted it.
Intense onion flavored scallions all the time now!
Cheers
irina