Our favorite use of basil (apart from pesto) is this Thai noodle dish, from Real Thai by Nancy McDermon. We eat this pretty much every week during the basil growing season. It works with any kind of basil, in my opinion. 3 c. wide rice noodles, soaked in boiling water for 10 min, then drained. 2 Tbs minced hot peppers 1 Tbs chopped garlic 1 Tbs sugar 1/4 tsp salt Ground black pepper to taste 3 Tbs fish sauce 1 tsp soy sauce 2-4 Tbs veg. oil 1/4 lb ground pork, beef, turkey, or chicken 3/4 c. chopped basil or mint small handful of cherry tomatoes, quartered Get everything ready before you begin. Combine your sugar, salt, pepper in one small bowl, and the fish sauce and soy in another. Put all the other ingredients next to the stove. Heat a large, deep skillet over med high heat, add oil. When hot, add garlic. Toss 30 sec. Add chiles and toss another 30 sec. Add the ground meat, breaking it up with your spatula. Cook till brown. Add the sugar mixture and toss to mix. Add the fish sauce mixture and stir fry until the sauce bubbles and thickens slightly (~1 min.). Turn the heat down a bit and add the rice noodles and turn to coat in the sauce, about 1 min. Add the basil, turning to wilt. Add the tomatoes, fold in, and remove from heat. Enjoy! I like to add a bit more fish sauce to my plate of noodles.

hi Paul.. the above comment can be very true, however, if your living in a city and have no outdoor space, like me, then we grow on our window sill :) Actually what I do is place my basil on a small table just near a window. My Basil is from seeds planted in May and they are still growing in their small terra cotta pots.. just be sure that your pot drains well. And at least once a week(on the really nice days) I open the windows or take it out to my sun porch where my other herbs currently are. To help with your infestation, you may want to think about purchasing an insect killer spray. Or if you prefer organic you can always google how to make your own..there's a ton of websites that can give you instructions.. or stick with your current method if it seems to be working. Imho, I think you should re pot it in different soil. If you cannot get your finger an inch or so in then the soil may be too dense. You can buy just a little bag of good draining potting soil, or maybe you can ammend the soil you currently have with some sand and/or sphagnum moss. And go ahead and pinch those yellow leaves off. I wouldn't fertilize especially with it so late in the season. And make sure to freeze or dry some of your leaves before you've squeezed all the life of your plant that you can lol.. but I like to do this so that I can still enjoy the herb even in the cold cold months. But as I read over my advice I'm reminded that it is almost October so don't go and spend too much money and/or time as my indoor basil usually is a goner by the end of November. Good luck and remember "Nothing ventured, nothing gained!"

This is a great plant for the reasons you mentioned. I also like to use it in gardens for appearance, as edging or the like. To do that, though, keep it trimmed because it does get quite large. Basils of all flavors interest me, just wish it was perennial. Enjoy your new discovery.

Nope never. This year I even lost parsley!