Basil is a great herb. Visually attractive and a nice fragrance. Basil is used in loads of recipes, can be kept fresh in the refrigerator in a dry plastic bag for a few days, freezes well.
My favorite thing to do with Basil? Is to drink it! I am not a drinker at all, don’t even have an occasional cocktail, just don’t want the edge to come off..yeah I like being high strung unless I am on vacation.
Years ago we offered a cooking demonstration once a month with a local chef that taught us how to prepare a wide variety of things and always something for fun. Once we made Fortified Basil Lemonade Cocktails. Here is how you do it.
2/3 cup sugar
Zest and Juice Lemon
1/2 cup water
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil
1 oz Dark Rum
1/4 cup sparkling water
Start by making a syrup, combine all ingredients except the basil in a 2 1/2 qt saucepan. Bring to a boil and continue boiling until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. When ready to use, combine syrup and basil in a food processor and blend for 20 seconds. Strain through a cheese cloth. This is now your new Basil syrup.
Here is the good part, use 1 oz Dark Rum adn 1/4 cup sparkling water into a highball glass and add the Basil syrup and garnish with a fresh cut lime. You now have an incredibly edible…knock your lights out cocktail. Be careful, consuming these may lead to someone getting luck.
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