Advantages: versatile, tasty and easy to grow.
Disadvantages: None - unless you don't like it.

...~:~:~ Introduction ~:~:~ Basil is one of mine and Tim’s favourite herbs. Tim is really fussy with food and basil allows me to add flavour to his otherwise quite bland diet. Basil is also incredibly versatile and although most people would associate it with Mediterranean cuisine Basil is also used in many Asian cultures such as Thai, Chinese and Indian in fact from reading the internet a bit for research it would seem that in the US and Australia more people would associate Basil with oriental and Asian food than Mediterranean; I guess it must be a proximity thing? So let me tell you what I know about Basil. ~:~:~ Meet the Lamiaceae Family ~:~:~ The Lamiaceae family is also commonly known as the “Mint” family and contains so many culinary plants such as basil, mint, rosemary, sage, marjoram, oregano and thyme. In total... Read review

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Advantages: Taste
Disadvantages: Hard to grow

......To grow that is. Basil is definately an essential for the herbologist's kitchen. When it decides it wants to grow, it can grow indoors in a pot like wildfire. A well-established basil plant will go from strength-to-strength and grow all year round indoors, provided you pull off a few leaves on a regular basis to stimulate growth. When basil chooses not to grow, it can turn from a springy fresh, fragrant leafy bush into a droopy withering weedy mess in a couple of days. After having two basil plants in the house for over a year, one I grew from seed, the other nursed back to life from a bargain sale price almost dead plant from Tesco's, that just grew and grew, I really was surprised to discover just what a beggar basil can really be! The original plants died after an extended break away, when I entrusted their well... Read review

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Advantages: great skin tonic
Disadvantages: can cause reaction on sensitive skin so test first

...Before I start I just need to clear up a common misunderstanding about Basil Oil. The term Basil Oil is often used to refer to virgin olive oil which is infused with basil leaves to make it aromatic. This is used in cooking. The basil oil used in aromatherpy is obtained from entire above ground part of the plant (ocimum basilicum) by steam distillation and is a different thing. The aroma of this essential oil is spicey and fresh. It has a slightly balsamic tang to it and is grown commercialy in many different countries including Bulgaria. It is used in perfumes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, soap, medicine and fruit and will keep for up to three years from the manufacturing date, if its kept in a cool, dark place. Uses +++++ Basil is a good tonic for the nerves. It also seems to lift depression. Can help headaches... Read review

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Advantages: its not overly expensive
Disadvantages: to be avoided when pregnant

...BASIL OIL. Basil is generally used in Mediterranean cooking, though it also has a number of therapeutic properties. It can be used to refresh your senses. Soothe your digestive and respiratory tracts, and invigorate your mind. It’s great for treating anxiety and depression and is particularly effective due to its high concentration of alcohols that make up to 60% of basil oil. The main active compound being linalool, which is what gives basil that distinctive, floral, spicy, citrus scent. And monoterpene alcohols that are considered to be uplifting, warming and balancing. Its also antibacterial and antiviral, which helps to stimulate your defensive system to fight infections. You can use basil oil for inhalation, in the bath, and as a massage. And its best for treating respiratory infections, indigestion, and fevers... Read review

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Advantages: Fragrant
Disadvantages: Does not last long

...Excuse the title but every time I think of Basil I think of Fawlty Towers and Manuel's pet hamster. Anyway back to the herb basil... Basil can be bought in most major supermarkets either fresh or dried. I prefer the fresh version which can be found in small pots and cost around 50p at Asda. One drawback though is that it does not last very long but I tend to add it to everything when I have it around. The famous combination is basil and tomato which you can understand once you try it. Simmer some tinned plum tomatoes with some sugar, tomato puree, salt, pepper and plenty of basil for half an hour. This makes a lovely simple pasta sauce. There is also the rule that you should not chop the basil but rip it with your hands to keep the flavour. Not sure how this works but I do it anyway. I also like to add some basil leaves to my... Read review

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Advantages: lots of uses in cookery
Disadvantages: you may not like the taste

...Basil is widely grown in Britain and has many uses in cookery and in herbal remedies. This is a half hardy plant but in warmer countries it is a perennial. The seeds can be sown under glass in late March or early April. Then the little plants can be moved to the garden in early June. You can sow the seeds straight into your gareden in May if you prefer, but I always like to get plants off to a good start in the greenhouse. The plants have funny shaped leaves and some of the different varieties have jagged edges to the ends of the leaves. The flowers are quite pretty and white, but you can also get purple tinged ones. There are lots of different varieties of basil you can grow. African Blue has the purplelish flowers and can be used in rice dishes or in stews. Sweet Basil is proberbly the most common one seen... Read review

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Advantages: Fast, hip and funny
Disadvantages: It's too good for kids!

...OK, own up – are you old enough to remember the original Basil Brush Shows of the ‘seventies? If so, your first view of the all-new, super-hip, in yer face Basil Brush Show of the noughties may come as a bit of a shock………. ~ So What’s the New Basil Like Then? ~ New Basil Brush seems pretty much the same as the old one: a wise-cracking puppet fox, dressed in his traditional country gentleman’s outfit, with a penchant for terrible old jokes, and a nice line in appropriate put-downs when the need arises. He also sounds remarkably like the original (voiced by co-creator, the late Ivan Owen). Of course, New Basil has learnt to be rather more PC than his predecessor, although his catch phrase, “Boom Boom!” thankfully remains unchanged. ~ The Characters ~ Basil’s... Read review

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Advantages: Crisp and crunchy
Disadvantages: Not very strong flavour of tomato or basil

...In my spare time – what a laugh! I was browsing through Ciao products and discovered that no one had written about Walkers Tomato and Basil crisps. The name sort of rang a bell. I thought there was a bag of them in the cupboard that my husband had added to the trolley one day, so exploring the depths of the big walk in cupboard I discovered some multipack bags of crisps and sure enough in the type classed as “Mediterranean” was Tomato and Basil flavour. In fact there are 3 varieties in this pack the other two being –Feta cheese and Greek Kebab. As it was nearing lunch time I decided to sample them along with some bread and cheese. First of all a little about Tomatoes. It is really a fruit rather than a vegetable and used to be called the love apple. Sorry to disappoint you all it isn’t an aphrodisiac, but got the name from... Read review

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Advantages: very tasty
Disadvantages: quite pricey

....49: Standard £0.89 Brie per kg BGTY £5.95: Standard £6.67 (French variety) Cumberland Pie 450gr BGTY £1.49: Standard £1.59 ( Oh dear! Unfortuatey this review format doesn't seem to like tables but I hope you get my drift!) There is no standard equivalent of Tomato and Basil Chicken but the results of this swift check satisfied me that the customer is not necessarily paying much more for a healthier alternative and sometimes, less. Tomato and Basil Chicken Ingredients This dish for one consists of a whole chicken breast in a light tomato and basil sauce served with rosemary roasted potatoes. The ingredient list goes as follows:- Roast Potato 30%,Chicken Breast 21%, Tomato 21%, Water, Onion, Rapeseed Oil, Tomato Puree, Basil, Sugar, Garlic Puree, Cornflour, Red Wine, Vegetable Stock, Sundried Tomato, Rosemary, Salt, Black Pepper... Read review

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Advantages: On the table in under ten minutes
Disadvantages: Not a very large portion and not much chicken

...The Product Tomato & Basil Chicken by Heinz is part of the Weight Watchers range of frozen foods. The product description on the front of the packaging is “Tomato & Basil Chicken with Tagliatelle”. The back of the packaging has a more detailed description and adds the following: “Succulent chicken breast pieces with vegetables in a tomato and basil sauce, served with tagliatelle pasta”. The product weights in at 330 grams. The Packaging The product is supplied in a black plastic container with a clear film cover which is sealed, but easily removed after cooking. The outer covering is that of an easy to open cardboard box which is in the distinctive colour and design of the revamped Weight Watchers from Heinz branding. The back of the outer box contains tables with the following information: • Nutrition Information • Cooking... Read review

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