I have a lovely looking new basil plant in my kitchen,

[lucysmam]

now what do I do with it? Apart from enjoy the smell which has taken over the kitchen but is lovely

Keep it watered. Add it to pasta (before serving) pop it on pizzas.

When I was pg basil smelt like cat's p*ss. Even though I like it now on the odd occasion it still makes me slightly queasy

Oh and yes, water it.

lol DANCES, lovely! just add it to pasta/pizza as it is (chopped though obviously)?

sorry but it's true! yes, either roughly chopped or just leaves scattered in sort or thing.

Anytime you use tomatoes, put some basil on too. Lovely on a salad. Sometimes I chop, sometimes I don't. It's not so strong you can't eat a whole one.

Stuff chicken breasts with soft cheese, cherry tomatoes and fresh leaves of basil- yummy. That was what I was set to make this week, but for some reason I was given a coriander plant instead of basil in my online delivery and DH didn't notice- so send some to me!

Wait until it's huge then use the whole lot to make pesto!

Make pesto!

My basil plant has taken over my tiny kitchen - I love it. Think fresh basil is one of my favourite smells.

MMMMMMMMmmmm coriander. I'm just about to add a big handful to the Dorowat that is simmering in my slow cooker. YUM!

Joolyjooly, that sounds delish! will try next time i have some chicken in.

trefusis, that would be lovely, please.

I didn't realise it would be 'on it's way out' soon, will it not live over winter in my kitchen?

DANCESwith, what's Dorowat?

Snaf it smells absolutely lovely, keep getting a whiff as I walk past

Califrau, do they not grow back as you use them?

yum, really simple too by the looks of that! thanks trefusis!

chop up tomatoes into a bowl
add plenty of olive oil, salt and pepper
lots of basil
leave to marinade. delish!

also add basil to roasted vegetables

avocado/tomato/mozzarella salad with basil leaves

yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

p.s. i thought you had to be careful not to overwater basil - just water when the plant wilts? I've been doing this and my plant is lasting much longer than usual when i watered little and often

the label on mine said water when the pot felt 'light' to lift, amidaiwish. so I assume when it starts wilting would probably be when the pot gets light

yes, it is definitely light when i water it now.

how much water do you give it? & do you just let it soak it up or do you drain off any it hasn't drunk over however long you leave it?

i just run it under the tap. i make sure any excess has drained off and then put it back on very sunny windowsill.

suppose that's the easier way of doing it! knowing my luck i'd over water it n it'd die!

I use my basil plant so much now there's nearly no leaves on it! It's a good rule of thumb that you use basil whenever you use tomatoes - fresh or chopped. It really revolutionises a dish when you use fresh basil rather than dried. I use Oregano a lot too - can you buy that potted? I have not seen it in supermarkets along with the other potted herbs.

Bought from a supermarket? They're a rip-off and will soon die.

lol Califrau, I will try and be gentle with mine then!! Can't afford to go through them like that!

MrsJamin, I have no idea, never even looked at potted herb plants until someone on here suggested getting a basil plant to use in tomato sauce to go with pasta.

pointy, really??? I'm quite gutted now you've said that!! It smells soooo nice in my kitchen atm! Can you get ones that won't die so quickly?