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Basil recipe ideas
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 182810" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>I didn't know that about bay leaves. I'm still not sure about that one.</p><p></p><p>I have a large bay tree in our backyard which I had to cut back a bit a fortnight ago. I tend to use the leaves fresh, but if I cut a bit and don't use it all, I stick the rest of the branch in my herb rack and just break off a bit when I want more. I use the sticks too, when all the leaves have been snapped off. There is so much natural oil in bay that the leaves never go mouldy.</p><p></p><p>You're supposed to pick the bay leaves out before serving, because they taste bitter and very strong if you accidentally chew on them. But I have used the young shoots, dried and powdered, in my bottles of mixed herbs that I prepare myself to sell. They work really well and add a great flavour.</p><p></p><p>Are you sure it's bay that's supposed to silence your wife? Or are you getting confused with the oleander, which the Greeks also had as sacred to Apollo? It was oleander that the Delphi Oracle used to chew (or breathe in the smoke) in order to have those hallucinatory dreams and ravings which were then written down and interpreted by priests for the benefit of pilgrims looking for supernatural guidance.</p><p>In Greece the bay tree was called "dafnes" after the nymph who was turned into a bay tree by her father to protect her purity from Apollo's pursuit, according to mythology. That's why Apollo wears a wreath of bay leaves.</p><p></p><p>scientific name is "Laurus nobilis". There are other plants also known as laurel, which are toxic in various ways. That could be where the idea has come from, that bay can make you lose your speech.</p><p></p><p>I do know that Dieffenbachia, also known as "dumb cane", can paralyse the vocal chords (and the muscles at the back of your throat) and lose your speech temporarily. It is very toxic. And another plant, Sanseviera, is also known as "mother-in-law's tongues" and I believe it also has a similar toxic effect. Sanseviera is also long, green and spiky.</p><p></p><p>I wouldn't worry about basil's toxicity. It's a member of "Labiatae" (defined by the shape of the flowers) and all members of that family are supposed to be safe to eat. Most herbs we use in cooking belong to that family.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 182810, member: 1991"] I didn't know that about bay leaves. I'm still not sure about that one. I have a large bay tree in our backyard which I had to cut back a bit a fortnight ago. I tend to use the leaves fresh, but if I cut a bit and don't use it all, I stick the rest of the branch in my herb rack and just break off a bit when I want more. I use the sticks too, when all the leaves have been snapped off. There is so much natural oil in bay that the leaves never go mouldy. You're supposed to pick the bay leaves out before serving, because they taste bitter and very strong if you accidentally chew on them. But I have used the young shoots, dried and powdered, in my bottles of mixed herbs that I prepare myself to sell. They work really well and add a great flavour. Are you sure it's bay that's supposed to silence your wife? Or are you getting confused with the oleander, which the Greeks also had as sacred to Apollo? It was oleander that the Delphi Oracle used to chew (or breathe in the smoke) in order to have those hallucinatory dreams and ravings which were then written down and interpreted by priests for the benefit of pilgrims looking for supernatural guidance. In Greece the bay tree was called "dafnes" after the nymph who was turned into a bay tree by her father to protect her purity from Apollo's pursuit, according to mythology. That's why Apollo wears a wreath of bay leaves. scientific name is "Laurus nobilis". There are other plants also known as laurel, which are toxic in various ways. That could be where the idea has come from, that bay can make you lose your speech. I do know that Dieffenbachia, also known as "dumb cane", can paralyse the vocal chords (and the muscles at the back of your throat) and lose your speech temporarily. It is very toxic. And another plant, Sanseviera, is also known as "mother-in-law's tongues" and I believe it also has a similar toxic effect. Sanseviera is also long, green and spiky. I wouldn't worry about basil's toxicity. It's a member of "Labiatae" (defined by the shape of the flowers) and all members of that family are supposed to be safe to eat. Most herbs we use in cooking belong to that family. Marg [/QUOTE]
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