http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x68275Oh my.
Mind_your_head (1000+ posts) Thu Aug-27-09 09:45 PM
Original message
Quick question regarding basil & fresh tomatoes
My daughter is going off to college again. I'm sending her off with lots of my homegrown tomatoes and some store bought shrinked-wrapped fresh mozzerella balls. She loves Insalata Caprese (you all know, of course....fresh mozzerella, tomatoes slices, basil, and Evoo).
My question is how do I send my fresh basil along so that it will keep for awhile? I THINK, but am not sure, that I can rinse & dry the basil leaves. Then either snip them (or not) and just put them in a smallish jar with olive oil. Would that work and "keep" for a few months? Also, if that's 'how to do it', should the jar be refrigerated or not? If that won't work, I'd love to hear how to do it.
Why not just buy her some gift certificates to a pizzaria?
The Gloria Swanson primitive:
Tangerine LaBamba (1000+ posts) Thu Aug-27-09 09:53 PM
Response to Original message
1. You should coat it in Vaseline, layer it in jars - that will keep it, and she'll have a nice supply of petroleum jelly when she gets to school.
A girl can't have too much lube, as I'm sure you know.
The defrocked warped primitive:
Warpy (1000+ posts) Thu Aug-27-09 10:17 PM
Response to Original message
2. Seriously speaking here
You wash the leaves and spin them fairly dry, then roll them up in one layer in paper towels. Store the roll of towels and basil leaves in a large plastic baggie. An old bread bag works well, just the right size.
Leaf lettuce keeps this way for a couple of weeks, so basil should do about the same with this treatment. It keeps them from getting too soggy or too dry in the fridge.
Mind_your_head (1000+ posts) Thu Aug-27-09 10:20 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Thank you Warpy
Does that mean that the olive oil/pesto idea won't work?
The empressof all (1000+ posts) Thu Aug-27-09 11:09 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. You could poison her that way
Oils infused with herbs are best used quite quickly. If they are allowed to sit especially at room temp they are prone to growing all kinds of nasty bacteria. Herbs in Vinegar are a little safer. The best way to save fresh basil is to freeze it in ice cube trays and keep it frozen until you are ready to use it. Pesto made without the cheese freezes well too. But it needs to be kept frozen until you are ready to use it.
ginnyinWI (1000+ posts) Fri Aug-28-09 12:42 AM
Response to Reply #4
7. botulism comes to mind...
If you store garlic in oil at room temperature, that's what can develop. I wouldn't keep anything in oil at room temperature. Not worth the risk.
Better to dry the basil. It will still have flavor.
Gormy Cuss (1000+ posts) Thu Aug-27-09 11:11 PM
Response to Original message
5. You can make a basil and oil paste and it will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks but for a few months, I'd suggest making the paste and freeze it in ice cube trays, then popping the cubes into a plastic bag. That way whenever she has the urge she can thaw one or two cubes and it'll taste almost as good as fresh.
I have basil-in-oil cubes in my freezer for most of the winter.
The Miracle Whip primitive, who's the devil's advocate in the cooking and baking forum:
Mira (1000+ posts) Thu Aug-27-09 11:24 PM
Response to Original message
6. If my mother had sent me to college - and since you said "again" your daughter is not 18 but older - with Mozzarella, homegrown Maters and Ocimum basilicum, I think I would have changed my name.
I like to lurk in this forum, and every now and then post since I'm a bread baker and cook of many /most things German. But this just stretches credulity to a point where, even if I wanted to know the answer I don't think I'd go looking for it.
But then, that's just me. Probably not understanding an entire new Universe of securing Insalata Caprese on campus.
The sparkling husband primitive:
Stinky The Clown (1000+ posts) Fri Aug-28-09 12:53 AM
Response to Original message
8. Basil suitable for insalata caprese is pretty much impossible to keep more than a day or two.
And even then, you need a refrigerator. Surely there's a market near campu.
Or buy her a potted basil plant to put in her windowsill.
Or surely there's a pizzaria near campu.
Mind_your_head (1000+ posts) Fri Aug-28-09 01:17 AM
Response to Reply #8
9. Yep, after reading most of the responses
that's exactly what I concluded. Buying her a potted basil plant is the answer.
