I love pasta. I’m not really sure why I call it that, as a kid, when the actual Italian relatives were still alive, we always called it “macaroni.”
Now it’s “pasta.” Oh well.
And we always had fresh basil in the sauce (we always called sauce “gravy” because yes it started as marinara sauce but once meat is added that makes it “a gravy.”)
In fact I associate basil with pasta. I can’t think of any other way I’ve eaten basil. Either in sauce, sprinkled on top or in pesto sauce on pasta.
And I think I can speak for everyone when I say that fresh basil undeniably is one of the best smells on the planet. When I’m in the store buying it, the first thing I do (and second… and third) is take a big, long whiff of the basil bunch.
I’m realizing I can’t find the words to describe it. It’s fresh, pungent yet earthy, it’s a spice but not spicy. Hmmmm…. I’ll work on that.
I think a huge missed opportunity is that I’ve never seen a basil scented air freshener.
Febreeze could make a fortune. So could whoever makes those tree air fresheners that we hang in our cars:
Fresh basil rocks. Do you agree?
What do you like to eat basil with?
Your post made me hungry. 😉 Basil is one of my favorite spices as well. I like it mixed in things other than sauce though. Goes well with strawberries and goat cheese actually.
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Interesting. I hate goat cheese but strawberries are great
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They would have to get the scent for the car freshener just right, otherwise there may be a lot of upset people.
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Good point, silly pirate
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I love basil on ciabatta bread with tomato and fresh mozzarella. Lil bit of salt, pepper, and olive oil and you’ve got my favorite sandwich.
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Ok that’s a great one too
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Everything is so ethnically based. In our Polish-American household we just called it spaghetti. I missed out on identifying all the individual ingredients of the sauce smells, too, Rex. So even today I could not tell you basil from oregano. 😦
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Heresy!
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I just finished eating dinner, but all this talk about basil has made me hungry! I love fresh basil in a peach salsa with grilled chicken… Mmmm!
I would be all over a basil car-air freshener!
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That sounds delicious too
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You’ve made me ravenous!
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I’ve been getting that type of response to this post
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basil is also good with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, a drizzle of good olive oil with sea salt and freshly ground pepper…
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Nice!
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