Basil

I love herbs and would find it hard to pick a favourite - but if I had to, it most likely would be basil. I always have a couple of pots of fresh basil sitting on my dining table and I pick a few leaves off them most days to freshen up a meal, to go in a drink or even just to use as a garnish.

We eat lots of pasta at my house. Probably too much - but it is quick and easy and usually very tasty. And it means that I can make the same meal for us as for our toddler. We often eat pasta with a Bolognese sauce - topped with fresh basil and we frequently eat a variation on pasta with fresh basil pesto.

Nothing beats the combination of tomato, mozzarella and basil. I can still remember the first time I tried this as a pizza topping. It was back in 2001, when I was studying Italian at a language school in Florence and one of the girls from our class insisted I try a classic Margherita pizza at Il Pizzaiuolo, a popular pizzeria. I was instantly hooked and soon after discovered the joy of Insalata Caprese.

At the dinner party we had last weekend I served some Caprese Skewers on the Antipasti Platter - they looked great in contrast with the sliced meats and honey & wholegrain mustard chipolatas that made up the rest of the platter. Unfortunately I didn't get any photos, but here is a slightly blurry Instagram print from when I made the skewers earlier in the year (that time with prosciutto added).

It is great to have a herb garden that guests can use at a holiday rental house. It's a way off now, but I have already bookmarked these two recipes incorporating basil for next summer.

A Basil Mojito by Drizzle & Dip.

White Chocolate Strawberries with Basil Sugar via Bliss.

Do you use herbs very often in your cooking? Do you like basil best or have another favourite?

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Images: 1, 2, 3