Hester Street Farmer's Market, June 2010
There's bad news for gardeners who grow basil to sprinkle over Italian food or Thai dishes — or anyone who thinks pesto is the best flavor on Earth.
Click here for the full story: via www.npr.org
Go out and make pesto now! Basil is the perfect summer work around for food that's just a little too cold and damp. Basil is warm and "pungent" - that's spicy kicked up a notch. It assists with moving Qi and Blood and dispersing Dampness. You can blend basis with lemons to make a spicy lemonade. Basil tea is useful for headaches associated with colds and can help abdominal bloating and gas. Freeze some now and you'll get some of that fresh herb quality later when supplies are scarce. When you make pesto you're toning the dispersing quality down a bit, but giving the possible local shortages, it may be a good idea to make a bunch. See the great 101 cookbooks site for a traditional approach to making this classic.
In pesto the oil and nuts balance the dispersing qualities of the basil. Both are Yin in nature. Olive oil has an affinity for the Liver while pine nuts support the Kidney. Cheese generates fluids. (The lactose intolerant can leave it out and get something good to eat anyway.) Garlic is warming, affects the Spleen and Stomach and has anti-parasitic properties. It also has been shown to reduce cholesterol and benefit high blood pressure. Find "Garlic Is As Good As Ten Mothers", the 1980 film by Les Blank for more than you thought you could ever know about garlic.
Glad to hear you didnt have that problem out west! Will remember to remind people to have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, though. :) Thanks for the comment!
Joan Boccino, L.Ac.
Herbs and Healing/Acupuncture Associates, PC
200 E. 15th Street Ste. A
New York, NY 10003
212.777.3909
www.herbsandhealing.com
Contact Me
Signature powered by WiseStamp
Posted by: Joan Boccino | February 08, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Most people don't know the fact that you are more likely to have a fire in your house.
Posted by: home security hardware | February 08, 2011 at 04:51 AM