One of my favorite, straight from the garden, flavors this time of year is basil. That’s why I’m excited about this Tomato Basil Bruschetta recipe from Dei Fratelli.
My basil plants are in overdrive right now. I’ve been trying to keep the flowers pinched off and keep them branching out and tender. I’m losing the battle. My basil is blooming faster than I can pinch off the blooms.
I need to make some basil pesto to freeze soon, but maybe in the meantime I’ll use some of it fresh to make this recipe. If I make it, I might have to pair …read more

As I was researching herbal remedies for sore throat, I came across this article on South Asian home remedies which recommends a tea made of holy basil, black peppercorns, crushed cloves and a bit of crushed ginger, to relieve symptoms of common colds and flu.

Basil? Apparently, aside from its antibacterial and other health benefits, basil contain volatile oils that has anti-inflammatory properties, which basically act the same way as your over the counter aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen (source). Want more scientific proof? Check out this animal trial published in Fitoterapia.