What to do with basil

A subscriber asked for some suggestions on how to use the basil that came in last Thursday's box. 

• You can use it in sauces and soups.
• Snip off the end of the stem, put the cut ends in a cup of water and store them in the refrigerator with a plastic bag over the leaves, just as you would store cilantro.

Here are a few recipe suggestions.

Tomato-cucumber salad:

• chop some tomatoes* and cucumbers*
• dice some sweet onions*
• chop some basil leaves*
• (optional) add minced garlic 
• (optional) add cubed mozzarella aka home-style cheese (the kind you buy in a ball)
• season with red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste
• * all items contained in last Thursday's box! 
• I would have added a photo of this salad, but our family already demolished it.

Bruschetta:

• pre-warm oven on the broil setting
• set a rack right under the broiler element (or use a BBQ)
• chop tomatoes, onion and basil leaves
• mince garlic 
• add olive oil
• mix
• season mixture with salt and pepper and let steep for 10 minutes
• brush sliced bread with olive oil
• put bread under the broiler for 1-2 minutes
• remove bread from the oven
• cut bread into serving-size pieces (if needed)
• top with tomato-basil mixture

Antipasto platter:

• slice beefsteak tomatoes and mozzarella
• arrange on platter with (optional) salami or proscuitto
• top with chopped basil
• drizzle olive oil over platter

White bean spread (especially fast with a food processor):

• process a few garlic cloves
• add basil leaves and pulse
• add cooked white/canneloni beans and olive oil and pulse
• stir in salt and pepper to taste
• serve over bread