A new journey

Hello my dear readers,

For some of us is Monday already and some of you are still enjoy probably a Sunday evening, lucky you 🙂

Sunday or Monday, is August already! Can you believe it? Time does fly so fast! Soon we will hear Christmas songs 🙂 OMG! But first, let’s enjoy this summer! Oh well, I’m always living in summer, so…

My awesome readers know by now, that starting from this month, I’m trying to give a new route to my blog. I would like to concentrate a little bit more on what this beautiful planet has to offer us, to maintain us healthy and happy.

Join me in this amazing travel around the world, and let’s discover how simple and poor ingredients become stunning and delightful dishes, that not only keep us healthy but also make us happy.

Discovering our food

Everything you need to know about BASIL

Today let’s discover the basil and all the amazing benefits of this fragrant herb.

I always loved to have in my kitchen window the aromatic herbs, fist because I think it gives a nice touch to the kitchen, that green spot, and second because are so fragrant when they’re fresh.

Back home in Italy, I used to have my little garden with aromatic herbs, cherry tomatoes, and several kind of lettuce. Living in Singapore, in a rented apartment, I don’t have the possibility to have a garden and I don’t have a kitchen window, but in my small balcony I try to grow a few plants that reminds me of home 😊

Popsicle Society-Basil Origins

Today, basil is one of the most widely-used culinary herbs in the world and it is the herb that I use most in my kitchen together with parsley.

Basil is an aromatic tender plant from the mint family and is native from tropical regions from central Africa.

It is believed that basil has origins in India, but there are some indications that it may have originated even farther east than India, with ancient records suggesting that sweet basil was used in China, in the Hunan region. Basil eventually migrated westward as whole plants as it could be grown easily indoors and away from exposure to cold climates and frost and now can be found in all corners around the globe.

There are a number of types of basil, which differ in taste and smell. Sweet basil is the most commercially available basil used in Italian food, I believe you know pretty well pesto, and has a strong fresh, spicy, clove-scented flavor.

Alternatively, lime and lemon basil have a strong citrus scent and have become a staple in many Asian cuisines.

Basil is well known for its use in culinary traditions, but has also a rich history with other uses in society. For example, in ancient Egypt, it has been found in tombs and mummies, so most likely was used as an embalming and preserving herb and maybe because of its embalming applications, basil was also a symbol of mourning in Greece where it was known as basilikon phuton, meaning magnificent, royal, or kingly herb. In addition to other medicinal herbal traditions, basil has also a strong history in the traditional medicinal system of ancient India, like Ayurveda.

Popsicle Society-Basil ambient & needs

Basil is super sensitive to cold and loves very much the sun, pretty similar to me. It will grow best in a dry location, that gets 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily, though it can perform well also in partial sun, too.

The soil should be moist but well-drained.

The good thing is, if it flowers, the seeds will drop into the same pot and new baby plants of basil will grow. This is awesome! I always have new plants of basil and since is a pick-as-you-go kind of herb, I always harvest only what I need, but if you have an abundance on hand, you may clip a mass harvest.

Popsicle Society-Basil use in the kitchen

Basil has diverse applications in the kitchen as in the science labs. In cooking, most of the time we use basil fresh and usually we add the fresh leaves at the last moment, as cooking quickly destroys the distinct flavor. The fresh leaves can be kept for a short time in plastic bags in the refrigerator, or for a longer period in the freezer, but there’s no better taste than the ones just picked and used at the moment.

I love the fresh taste of the basil. My caprese salad is a very often meal. Great ingredients without too much work in the kitchen and still a wonderful and fresh taste! I also like to use it as the last finishing touch. It gives that special touch to the dish.

Freshly made pesto is also a wonderful herb sauce. Back home in Italy, when the basil plant become too big I used to do pesto. The kitchen was smelling so damn good 😉

Popsicle Society-caprese
Photo credit: Popsicle Society-caprese salad
PopsicleSociety-polpette_2470
Photo credit: Popsicle Society-polpette al sugo
PopsicleSociety-gnocchi_2695
Photo credit: Popsicle Society-gnocchi al pomodoro

Popsicle Society-Basil benefits

Now let’s see why we should always have a basil plant in our home.

Beside tasting amazing, basil has many other benefits on us. It’s highly nutritious and calorie light, rich in vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, potassium, and calcium, containing just 22 calories per 100 grams.

A few of the health benefits of basil are that it can act as an antioxidant, can reduce inflammation, has anti-aging and antibacterial properties, fighting against mold, yeast, and bacteria. Studies have found that holy basil has enhanced cognitive function and also improved other chronic health issues like diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and is a great remedy for mental stress associated with depression.

It is also known for natural remedies such as calming the stomach, one-half teaspoon of dried or fresh basil leaves in water can often help soothe indigestion and alleviate feelings of fullness; chewing fresh leaves can help calm coughing or a hot tea from dried basil can help soothe the cold; a facial steam with dried basil leaves can help alleviate a headache and of course giving you a wonderful perfume; chewing up a basil leaf and applying to the insect bite or stung, will help relieve the pain and draw out the venom; drank as a juice or tea, can help level out blood sugar if consumed regularly;  since is antibacterial, a few drops of basil oil can often relieve ear infections; and can help you also reduce stress and facilitate relaxation by adding a couple of cups of strong basil leaves tea to a warm bath.

This wonderful tender plant, beside helping us in the kitchen, have also so many benefits on us. I hope you have your basil plant already and if you don’t have it, try it!

Everything you need to know about BASIL-Popsicle Society1

Thank you for joining me in this journey and thank you for reading.

Italy is very well known for its use of basil, everybody knows pesto alla genovese right? So next time, I’ll take you to Genoa, the city where pesto was borne.

Join me and discover this beautiful city, fronting the Ligurian Sea, rich in art and notable architecture, an overlooked gem largely free of tourist crowds.

And last but not least, Monday or not, you know what kind of life you wish to lead then just go for it, one step at a time. But always remember to enjoy every step as is part of your journey and will never come back.

Have a great week!

94 thoughts

  4. Hey Ribanna, What you have shared is exactly true.. So many benefits out of it. And thats why most indians have this at home. Glad you shared about. This wil help lot of people out there.

    Reply

    1. Hi Simon, thank you very much! I’m glad you like it! Yes, I think there are so many things we don’t know yet of world ingredients and we miss so many benefits 😊 I’m sure Nisha has her basil plants already 🌱 😊
      Thank you very much for stopping by and for your kind words! Have a wonderful week Simon! 😊

      Reply

      1. Hey Ribanna, Thanks for your time. Yes there are so many to explore. From South india you have tons of items to share on blogging😉 Yes Nisha has her🌱 🌿already 🤗. Wish u an Awesome Week ✨😃

      2. Thank you Simon for your time 😊 Yes, I know you use so many wonderful ingredients in your cuisine 😊 Really a lot to explore 😊 same to you! A wonderful week ahead 😊🌱🌸

  12. This is really cute and informative post dear Ribana. 😍💖You were overload with awards nowadays. After a while you again came with some informative things. Thanks for sharing. I am working on your nomination on Sunshine blogger award. Will publish it soon.🤩🤩❤️

    Reply

    1. Thank you very much Olivia! Yes, before stopping taking the awards, I wanted to publish all the pending 😊😉
      Have fun with it! Have a wonderful day 🌸😊

      Reply

    1. Thank you very much Suni for your kind words 😊 I know, in India I guess every house has at least one basil plant 😊🌱 Too good 😉 Have a wonderful day 🌸🌸

      Reply

  16. 😂😂
    First it’s great to see your new journey 😊 lot of information and benefits for basil! Mixed post with always the inspiration touch 😊
    Well the year is certainly running! Soon we’ll be hearing Christmas songs indeed ! I feel the same about time flying.,,in less than a month my birthday 😣😣
    most importantly is to live each moment and be happy 😌
    We have all kind of basil, my mother has them of course, I love how it smells so much but not a fan of pesto sauce to be honest, my mother gave me one plant, it died actually from lack of sun and humidity 🙁
    Basil is like you indeed 😁
    Too much benefits I could never imagine it actually, felt like it’s a panadol or so 😂 here we make jokes because if you have anything at all, they tell you « take panadol »
    Hope you will have your own house again and many plants and dogs of course will be there 😊
    Delicious food in the pictures 😋 and now you’re a Gif expert 😉
    Have a great Tuesday, for you the countdown has started, for me I don’t want it to haha but well it will pass the same 😁
    Have a great day 🤗🤗🤗💕💕🧸🧸🧸

    Reply

    1. Thank you my dear Huguette for your time and for your support always! And this time a double effort since you are on holiday! I’m really grateful 🤗🤗
      True! It was January and suddenly is August! Is flying so fast! Yayyyy, soon we celebrate your birthday 🎂 🎉🎊🎉🎊 As you said, most important is to not just let the time pass by but use it wisely.
      Of course it died with you, no green thumb 😂😝🙈 Basil loves sun just like me 🌞I love pesto, it gives so much flavor to the pasta 🍝 😉😋😋
      Yes, we often don’t know the benefits of what we eat and it can make us so much good! We prefer taking the pill, panadol I guess is used whole over the world 🤪 But maybe sometimes we even don’t need that panadol but just eating some good and healthy ingredients 😋😉
      Yes, I’m keep dreaming so sooner or later will come, I know 😅🤪
      My countdown started already! Luckily this week is short as Friday is public holiday 🎉🎊🤪
      You don’t count them, just enjoy every single day 😉🎊🎉🤗🧸💕🤗🧸💕

      Reply

      1. My pleasure dear and hope this weekend is great since it started earlier 😁 great to have a long weekend!! Hope you are enjoying 😊
        Well we are not all gifted I guess with green thumb 😌
        Well I eat pesto sauce but always preferred white sauce actually 😊
        Eating healthy is great and it’s better than medicine that’s for sure 😌 I meant it as a joke because we use panadol for everything here
        Great to know it’s a holiday at your end so enjoy your time, vacation is over for me I’m coming back today but not sure will be back to blogging actually , I will see about it
        🤗🤗💕💕🧸🧸🧸🧸

      2. Yes, long weekend…relaxing a little bit!
        Then garlic sauce for Huguette 😉😉
        Actually I do take panadol for everything too 🤪🤪🤪
        Vacation is over? Oh no….but never mind, as my mother in law is always saying, a vacation is over so that you can start another one 😉😉
        Not sure you’ll be back to blogging? 🧐🧐🧐
        I can understand as is time consuming, especially if we see it as quite a “job”…but you are very good in doing it 🧸🧸🧸
        However, I missed you here 🤗🤗🤗 but there are always other ways to stay in touch 😉😉💕💕💕

      3. Ohh great then 😊
        Yes garlic or mayo 😁
        Exactly let’s hope next vacation is so soon 😊
        Yes I felt good while away from blogging so I’m not sure I want to be back so I will see 😊 thank you for your kind words, but it’s really time consuming but since you missed me I will re-consider 😁😁
        Yes sure we’ll stay in touch in all cases 😊😊 🤗🤗🤗💕💕🧸🧸🧸🧸

      4. Recently I’ve discovered garlic aioli, pretty delicious I would say 😋
        I know is good away from blogging but also blogging is nice without taking it too much serious I guess 🤪😉
        otherwise is only time consuming 🤪🤪
        I do miss you and I realise very very little people read the posts…😒😒
        Blogging or not we’re still in touch 😉😉🤗🤗💕💕🤩🤩🧸🧸

      5. 😳😳😳 what’s that? Yalla make a post about it 😁
        I take everything I do so seriously otherwise my blog wouldn’t reach this point so far but the way I see it, it can’t be just a hobby, I mean preparing a good post, reading, respecting all the readers and answering all the comments,… now tell me how to not take all this seriously and still maintain a good blog 🤔🤔🤔 I checked many blogs with 3k followers and more and then checked the posts, no interaction or no likes if you know what I mean 🤔
        I missed you too 😊 and yes only few few read actually and you will not find many read like you and me 😕
        Yes you have all my correspondence so it’s a piece of cake and when I’m somewhere near Europe or the place you will be after Singapore then will let you know 😁😁 we need to have this prosecco 😁
        🤗🤗🤗🤗💕💕🧸🧸🧸🧸

      6. I know, is very true, blogging cannot be just a hobby, because when you start to do something, you want to do it right and you are committed, which is very much time consuming…What I wanted to say is that need to find that magic secret that allows you to do it but also not doing it as a duty…if that exist in a way 🤔🤔
        Is just sad that after efforts and so much time dedicated to it, people don’t read it…I know, I guess only that particular niche, which is interested in the topic will read it…
        However, yes, we need to have this Prosecco one day 🥂 🥂 🥂
        In the meantime, I wish you a wonderful Sunday 🤗🤗💕💕🧸🧸🌸🌸

      7. Well actually I tried but until now I didn’t find this magic secret so when you find it, tell me 😊
        Exactly I ranted many times before about the non readers and now I don’t complain anymore I just ignore them that’s it
        Imagine some bloggers nominated me, sent them the post link, they said they are busy but they speak to me through comments on your post or others posts 🙄 what to say to these bloggers!? You know how much time the award post takes from me!! Anyway I’ll just ignore them totally
        Anyway let’s hope this day will be soon 😊😊 have a great Sunday as well 🤗🤗💕💕🧸🧸🧸

      8. Hopefully we will find this magic secret soon 😉🤗🤪
        I’m not sure how to handle them either….I guess we people are all strange 🤪🤪
        Until then let’s try to enjoy it as much as we can 😉🤪
        Sunday done but you are still in holiday 🤪
        Enjoy it my dear! 🤗🤗🌸🌸💕💕🧸🧸🧸🧸

      9. 😊😊😊 let’s see what tomorrow will bring
        Oh yes best thing is to eat and sleep hahaa
        You’re still too so enjoy it as well 🤗🤗🤗💕💕🧸🧸🧸

    1. Hi Rory, thank you very much for the tag but starting from this month I have stopped taking all the awards and challenges as I’m really struggling with time 🤪 I really appreciate it though! Thank you very much 😊

      Reply
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  24. Hi dear Riby 💞💞
    Hope you are awesome 💕
    Basil are perfect for kitchen..
    Well, thank you very much for sharing it…
    Here in India people worship Basil!!

    Reply

    1. Yes, pretty awesome 😎 Thank you Jyoti 😉
      I know that in India every house has at least one basil plant 😉😉 And that is awesome 😉😉
      So good and aromatic 😉
      Wish you a wonderful day Jyoti 😉🌸

      Reply
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