PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

Friday, October 15, 2010

How to freeze garden fresh basil

When I planted my basil and tomatoes in the Spring, I imagined the tomato salad I’d make in the summer:

050

Unfortunately this year my tomato crops were sabotaged, and I only had a few small fruits to pick from the plant.  As for the basil, I had the opposite problem.  That fragrant plant grew like a wildfire.  I hate to waste food, and I couldn’t just sit here and watch it die. There was a TON of basil left, and I couldn’t use it fast enough. 

When you’ve got lots of basil, you make pesto – but I’d already been there, done that.  I read about blending it up with oil and freezing it, but I wanted to do better.  I wanted to cook with my fresh basil throughout the fall and even the winter.

I didn’t know until recently that you can freeze fresh basil.  There really are few things you can’t freeze! 

It’s so easy to do.  All you need is a bunch of basil, a chopping knife, water and an ice cube tray.

Step 1:  Chop your cleaned basil.  Not finely, just enough to fit inside the cube in your tray.  IMG_2315

Step 2:  Cover completely with water.

IMG_2321

Step 3:  Pop it in the freezer. 

IMG_2336

Once it’s done, you’ll have these fragrant ice cubes that you can add to your pasta dish for a fresh summer meal even when there’s snow outside your window.  You can even defrost the leaves and make your pesto later if you like.  But at least you have the choice.

16 comments:

  1. I too have many herbs that I have been trying to figure out how to store through the winter. This is a great idea. Could I use this technique on other herbs like oregano, parsley, thyme and mint?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't see why not. I thought of doing it with mint, for mojitos!

    Next year I'll have to plant mint...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi just calling by from your latest follower Via Friday Blog hops. Love meeting new bloggers. Great idea. Hope you are having a end of the week.Be sure to check my blog out www.jamarahcraftycreations.blogspot.com
    Sarah.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This looks wonderful! My basil plant died before I could even use it 3 times, but I will definitely have to try this next time around!
    Mint for mojitos... YESSSSS!

    Deanna

    ReplyDelete
  5. new follower from fun follow friday :)
    http://jensgiveaways.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello, I'm your newest follower from Social Parade. Nice to meet you! Hope you consider following me back ( - :
    malia
    www.yesterdayontuesday.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love basil and all the things you can do with it. I had been just drying my extra to save, but the freezing sounds like a great idea. Actually, DH and I make a Strawberry basil mojito that this would be great in.

    BTW, found your link on Born2Impress' blog hop. hope you can visit my blogs.
    cookiesandbonbons.blogspot.com
    blog.earthformed.com
    garden.eartfhformed.com
    food.earthformed.com
    reviews.earthformed.com
    I follow you and subscribe to your rss and newsletter

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great way to preserve this overly abundant herb! I will have to remember this for next year...so tired of buying fresh basil for $3.00!

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is AMAZING!!! Thanks for the wonderful tip. I'll definitely be using that in the future!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great tip : ) I am hoping to grow some things next summer. Will add this to the list.

    ReplyDelete
  11. That's a great idea! following you from FMBT :) hope you visit when you have time http://emmaslunch.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow, I keep seeing this tip this week... Melissa D'Arabian mentioned it too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I freeze mine in a plain glad container, skipping the water, sprinkled with a bit of salt. Works pretty well on a variety of herbs!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I going to try this next year. The last time I dried them in the oven. I think they lose a lot of flavor that way.

    ReplyDelete

Affiliates

Special Events

z

Blog Roll

Mama Must Have It
Baby Shower Event @ Raising My 5 Sons
Girls' Lunch Out
Jolly Mom
Photobucket

Topics

about (1) accessories (11) advertising (1) art (1) articles (8) baby (3) baby gear (5) backtoschool (4) bags (3) baking (2) baseball (1) basil (1) bath products (1) beach (1) beauty (6) birthday parties (1) blogger events (6) blogging (2) blogher (1) books (9) budget-friendly (1) business (1) cards (1) casserole (1) casual dining (2) celebrities (1) children's books (4) children's shoes (1) cleaning (4) clothing (15) coffee (5) concerts and events (1) confections (1) cooking (8) coupons (21) crafts (1) cranberry (1) decorating (2) diapering (2) dining (1) dogs (1) dolls (2) dvd (3) ecofriendly (5) electronics (1) entertainment (26) events (1) fairtrade (1) fallforfashion (14) family fun (1) family-friendly (2) fashion (2) flowers (1) food (23) food labeling (1) for kids (1) freebies (17) fun places for kids (1) furniture (2) gadgets (1) games (1) gardening (3) gear (1) GGMholidayguide (7) gifts (14) girls (1) giveaways (25) goat (1) grilling (1) grooming (1) guest bloggers (5) halloween (2) health (7) healthy (4) home movies (1) household (5) how-to (1) hygiene (1) jeans (2) jewelry (1) kids (4) kids apparel (3) kids gifts (1) kids music (2) kids shoes (4) kitchen (7) laundry (4) Lost (11) low-fat (4) make your own (1) martha stewart (1) maternity (2) mens clothing (1) models (1) music (4) music class (1) nate berkus (1) natural (2) new jersey (1) newspapers (1) nursery (1) office supplies (1) parenting (1) party planning (1) pennsylvania (2) personalized (3) Pets (2) Philadelphia (2) photobooks (1) plastic surgery (1) play places (1) PR (1) pregnant or fat? (1) press events (2) printing (2) pumpkins (1) ragu (1) Ramblings (47) recall (1) recipe (5) reviews (382) Rules (1) shoes (4) Skincare (4) snacks (4) software (1) spiritual (1) Sponsored (20) sports (1) stocking stuffers (1) summer (2) Summer Essentials (24) sushi (1) sweet breads (1) swimwear (1) Tassimo (1) technology (1) theme parks (2) toddler (25) toddler eating (2) toys (12) travel (1) traveling with children (2) undergarments (1) unilever (1) V-Day (1) video-editing (1) vitamins (1) w/w (22) water (1) weeds (2) Winners (10) WinningStyle (13) women (1) women's accessories (1) women's gifts (1) womens clothing (4) wordless wednesday (8) wordpress (1) yo gabba gabba (1) zoo (2)

Search This Blog

 
Blog Design by April Showers