Gardening

If you have ever tasted a wood-fired Margherita pizza, homemade pesto on crusty baked bread or enjoyed a colorful Caprese salad, then you know the value of fresh homegrown basil. One of the most versatile and fragrant herbs, it's a must-have for any foodie that loves to cook! Lucky for us, it's also super easy to grow at home. No matter what time of year it may be, you can grow and enjoy fresh basil for all your cooking needs. That's why we LOVE the idea of sharing it as a wedding favor with these adorable Grow Together Basil Seed Packets. With tons of seeds inside these beautifully designed packets, your guests will be thrilled to take home these seed packets to plant and grow yummy basil. You can customize the colors and the messaging on the recycled paper insert to make it just right for your celebration. Made as Earth-friendly as possible, these packets are made with NON-GMO seeds and a biodegradable plastic bag. Here are a few basic tips for growing basil indoors: Cooking with your basil The best part of growing basil is definitely harvesting it. If you maintain your plants you'll have tons of leaves to work with, so you'll want to dream up all kinds of good things to make. Here are three tried and true recipes to get you started. Easy Peasy Pesto 3 cups packed fresh basil leaves 4 cloves garlic 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup olive oil 1/4 cup pine nuts 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional) Combine basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and nuts in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth paste. Add parsley if desired. (from allrecipes.com) Strawberry Basil Smoothie 2 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, washed and frozen overnight 3/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt (if you only have plain Greek yogurt, try adding 2 tablespoons of honey) 5 - 6 large basil leaves Combine all three ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and garnish with a strawberry wedge and basil leaf. Enjoy! Quick Pizza Margherita 1 (10-ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust dough Cooking spray 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1 garlic clove, halved 5 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced (about 3/4 pound) 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded fresh mozzarella cheese 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper Preheat oven to 400°. Unroll crust dough onto a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; pat into a 13 x 11 inch rectangle. Bake at 400° for 8 minutes. Remove crust from oven, and brush with 1/2 teaspoon oil. Rub crust with cut sides of garlic. Arrange tomato slices on crust, leaving a 1/2 inch border; sprinkle evenly with cheese. Bake at 400° for 12 minutes or until cheese melts and crust is golden. Combine 1/2 teaspoon oil and vinegar, stirring with a whisk. Sprinkle pizza evenly with sliced basil, salt, and pepper. Drizzle the vinegar mixture evenly over the pizza. Cut pizza into 8 pieces. (From myrecipes.com) Created with biodegradable materials, this seed paper is embedded with NON-GMO seeds that grow wildflowers, herbs or vegetables when planted in a pot or garden. Perfect for a variety of events and purposes including crafting, weddings, memorials, promotional products, recipients will love growing their own bounty of fresh flowers, basil, parsley, dill, carrots, lettuce or tomatoes with a simple piece of compostable paper. Like what you see on our blog? Join our mailing list to receive emails with freebies, projects, coupons, green living tips and decor ideas and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.