Basil

Many people think of Italian cuisine when using basil but it is found in other parts of the world as well especially Thailand and Vietnam. There are many varieties of basil but the most popular is sweet basil.

Like most fresh herbs it should be added to dishes at the end because cooking destroys its flavor quickly.To store fresh basil, wrap it in a wet paper towel or place in a vessel of water (like a bouquet of flowers) and cover with a plastic bag and refrigerate.

Compounds in basil have been found to have health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-microbial properties. Basil is a very good source of beta-carotene, iron, and calcium, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C.

One of my favorite dishes using basil is Pesto. Pesto tends to be made with a lot of oil which translates into too many calories.

Here's a link to a lighter recipe

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=350873

To make this pesto saucier for your whole grain pasta, you may add a little water. Add pesto to sandwiches, pasta, or coat a chicken breast with it before baking.

Make lots of pesto when your garden is overflowing with basil, freeze in ice cube trays, and store in a zip top bag in the freezer for the rest of the year.