Basil : Part Deux

Tonight we went to Nature Edge Garden Center to get a Mother's Day gift... shhh.  I somehow restrained myself from getting everything I "needed". I didn't even walk out of the front greenhouse because I knew there would be two problems:

1) we would be in the greenhouse for hours

2) I would spending too much money! 

As I mentioned before I had an issue with my thyme and basil. My sad little seedlings didn't make it through a spring Minnesota night. I do have a couple small thyme sprigs shooting up but I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for them to grow to full size.  However,I had really high hopes for the basil. So I bought a packet of seeds, basil. And planted them right in where the other basil had failed.  They will not be venturing outside for a while though.

Wish me luck this time around!

Frustrated...

Two thing to vent. Then I'm done.

1) Last night I left out my little herbs, the thyme and basil. I have had problems with these two. The seeds are barely sprouted and I don't have a spot big enough for the box I'm using to grow them in that sits in direct sunlight. I put them in the sun when I got home last night and forgot them, outside. And there was frost this morning so the temp was in the 30's. I brought the herbs inside and it is currently sitting in the bathroom on the sink where it should have had a couple hours of direct sunlight. Frustrated that I forgot them outside...hopefully I didn't kill what had started! Grrrr...

2) Project 5 will take me much longer than previously planned. Started digging out 1... I repeat 1 tree stump/root system last night and I was out there for 1 1/2 hours! The one tree had roots which crossed with more roots which twisted around other roots... The tree and root won last night, I was defeated.  I will get the root out tonight even if it is dark when I finish, ha! I also came across 3 rocks, all pretty small. However, I have only been out one night with the shovel and have so much more to dig!

Must. Learn. Patience.
*Deep breath

Pesto!

I might be in the midst of spring fever but it seems like my herbs are growing so.... slowly! I planted my basil and thyme weeks ago and I only have itty bitty little tiny seedlings popping up, but not much to speak of. The weather has been cold and I do not have a heat/grow lamp so it has been hard getting my little sprouts some good sunlight. We had great weather yesterday and I put my herb box outside. But most days it sits inside, just waiting for the sun. 

So while I have been (im)patiently waiting for my basil and thyme to hurry up I have been combining recipes from different cooking sites. My issue with most online recipes is that they call for ingredients I cannot find in Northern MN. I like to use what I have at home on a regular night and not have to make an extra trip to the grocery store for one thing. So I take something out... add something new... change the amounts if I don't have enough, and then change it around the next time!

Ingredients:
1 bunch (approx. 2 1/2 cups) of fresh basil
1 clove garlic
3/4-1 cup olive oil
2 1/2 tablespoons raw pine nuts, walnuts, or almonds
Pinch sea salt
1/2 cup (organic) Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Blend all ingredients, small food processor works best.
Enjoy on toast, veggies, pasta, seafood or anything in need of sauce!

(I hope my basil looks like this soon!)

Basil and Thyme

I decided to start my herb garden this year with basil and thyme (ordered both from Burpee).The funny thing is that I have never in my life used thyme and have only used fresh basil for a few recipes over the years! I am hoping when the herbs are at full growth and ready to use I will be able to find something new and healthy to cook using the little herbs. I am also going to look for ways to preserve (freeze and/or dry) both herbs for future use. I ended up planting way more than we can use.

Coming Soon... dill, sweet marjoram and veggies!