Basil
Basil is an all time fave in the herb category here at Taste Buds Kitchen! We are constantly adding it to our pizzas and pasta dishes. We were tired of running out to the store all the time to grab this fresh ingredient so we decided to get a whole basil plant for our sun drenched windowsill in our Kitchen studio. The newest addition to our kitchen hails from the Union Square Greenmarket, the best place around to buy fresh herbs, produce, dairy products, and almost anything else you could think of and we can’t get enough of it!
Why is basil so great, you ask? Well for one, it tastes delicious! The basil we eat here in the United States is called sweet basil. It’s in the mint family and has a strong, somewhat sweet smell and taste, which is due in part to the flavonoids and oils within. These same essential oils that make each leaf taste so great also offer us some serious health benefits. Studies have confirmed that these oils have antioxidant, anti-cancer, antimicrobial and anti-viral properties! So many benefits packed into such a tiny plant! Next time you want to boost flavor and health in a dish for you and your little ones, try a sprig of basil.