My neighbor’s daughter Ireland surprised me with a precious gift this weekend; a basil bouquet. It was for a science project and after the project was completed, Ireland showered many of us with basil bouquets.

I think I’m jealous of basil. It has an upper crust name you know, Ocymum minumum. It’s ancestry is rather fru fru as well. While basil originated in tropical Asian, it is considered sacred in Hindu religion and is closely linked to folklore and mythology.

Never mind all that. Let me tell you what I did with my bouquet. First I put it in a vase in the kitchen as the swirling white flowers and the delicate mint green leaves intrigued me. (Basil is actually a large member of the mint family, you know.)

The next day I cut away the leaves, leaving some whole and others in quarters. Now for the fun. I seasoned eggs, beans, noodles, sauces, you name it; everything was seasoned with fresh basil from this bouquet. Afterwards I simply placed what was left remain in an open container in the refrigerator. Everything had a fresh invigorating aroma. Thanks Ireland!