Basil "cigars"

To preserve basil from a bumper crop, wash and dry the leaves and then roll them into a cylinder. Use unflavored dental floss to tie the bundle; freeze it in a sealable plastic bag. When fresh basil is needed for salads, soups, or pastas, cut off the dental floss and slice from the end of the "cigar".

Pesto for Pasta

A simple way to preserve herbs such as basil, oregeno or summer savory is to make a pesto and freeze it. Process your favorite herb with garlic and olive coil in a food processor and then freeze the mixture in spice jars. When you are ready for a pesto, process two or three tablespoons of the frozen herb mixture with toasted pine nuts, grated Parmesan cheese and olive oil in a food processor. Add some of the water from simmering pasta and you will have a quick pesto sauce that enhances any pasta dish. By adding the pine nuts and Parmesan cheese at preparation time, you achieve a fresher pesto taste.