I grew the flavored basils and am now looking for recipes.I have lemon,lime,cinnamon & spicy globe basils. Any recipes?

-- Sharon WT (wildflower@ekyol.com), September 28, 2000

Answers

Any of those type basils can be used to flavor white wine vinegar - What I normally do is pack 2 cups of the basil leaves into a quart jar. heat the white wine vinegar ( has the mildest flavor) in a non-reactive pan, almost (but not quite) to the boiling point, then pour over the leaves. Allow it to steep for at least a week, then strain the vinegar through a coffee filter. Pour into a decorative bottle and cork it.

I have made pesto out of lemon basil, excellent on fish. Just don't use too much garlic, it'll overpower the lemon flavor. Enjoy your bounty - gotta love that basil!!!

-- Judi (ddecaro@snet.net), September 28, 2000.

As to making pesto with your basil, I have read that you can make a big batch, pour/pack it into ice cube trays and put them in the freezer. When they are frozen solid, pop the cubes out, store them in freezer bags, and then just take what you need for each recipe. You can also chop your basil, put that into the trays with water, and then thaw portions for cooking - it will preserve the colour and flavour.

-- Ellen Waters (watrwood@intergate.bc.ca), September 29, 2000.

Thanks for suggestions. I've made pesto & vinegars, before. I would still like to find some recipes like perhaps a mexican dish using lime basil or a Thai recipe that used Thai basil. I've read cinnamon basil is a tea basil,and would like any tea blend using it. Maybe someone knows a reference that I could get or access?

-- sharon WT (wildflower@ekyol.com), September 29, 2000.