[GrannieAnnie]

yes thats it , a little goes along way saw on the telly today basil is good for repelling insects might try planting some around .
chrissie b

You had me worried there Chrissie, I thought you were going to tell me to put it on myself to repel insects!!!    

Thanks Snowdrops, if you are right, then I will take it out of the jar and freeze it like alimilly said in ice cube tray.  I've only got one, I gave my others to my daughter as I don't often use them.

Right, just had a google!  they reckon 3-4 days in the fridge or a month in the freezer!  Not long is it?

[Madame Cholet]

I freeze Pesto in ice cube trays.  Once frozen I pop them out and store them in a bag in the freezer,  one cube is  equivalent to about 1 tablespooon.  I always freeze with the cheese and haven't had any problems doing this.    I freeze excess tomato puree this way too.

what a great idea I usually stick the half opened jar in the freezer cubes would be easier and more flexible.

[chrissie B]

the powers that be recon theres not much that cannot be frozen these days.
chrissie b

[LilacSandy]

yes thats it , a little goes along way saw on the telly today basil is good for repelling insects might try planting some around .
chrissie b

You had me worried there Chrissie, I thought you were going to tell me to put it on myself to repel insects!!!    

Thanks Snowdrops, if you are right, then I will take it out of the jar and freeze it like alimilly said in ice cube tray.  I've only got one, I gave my others to my daughter as I don't often use them.

Right, just had a google!  they reckon 3-4 days in the fridge or a month in the freezer!  Not long is it?

I think the month in the freezer just means that the longer you leave it the less of the strong taste you get, and as you are not sure if you like it very strong I do not think it would be a problem for you.

[GrannieAnnie]

Yes you are right Sandy!  Will try some today as we are having chicken, so I'll do something with it.  Just won't put any on OH's as he won't eat it!!     

[Willow_Warren]

I wouldn't keep in long in the fridge, a few days (commercially they can keep it longer (even the fresh stuff) as they would monitor the finished product and ingredients more) would prob keep a couple of weeks but I wouldn't actually reccomend it as something to do.

As for only a month frozen, this would be reccomended as a short time due to quality redrodation (flavour might change, texture degredation due to crystal formation etc), but wouldn't do you any harm!

I work in the food industry so assess this kind of thing at a manufacturing level on a daily basis!

Hannah

[GrannieAnnie]

Thanks Hannah!   I decided to freeze it in ice cube trays.  Just finished in fact.  That way I can take out a cube at a time and can see the difference over time!

If I really don't like it, next time I'll just freeze the basil! 

[snowdrops]

Hi Grannie, have you come across the ice cube bags,you fill with water seal the bag & then place in the freezer,then when you want one just press it out through the plastic. Simples & no mess,if your'e like me I always manage to spill the water from the tray in to the freezer.

[GrannieAnnie]

Yes, I used the bags for water snowdrops, that's why I don't use my ice cube trays.  But I didn't think I'd get the pesto in them!

I gave my daughter the ice cube trays as she BUYS ice cubes from the supermarket!   

[snowdrops]

Yes, I used the bags for water snowdrops, that's why I don't use my ice cube trays.  But I didn't think I'd get the pesto in them!

I gave my daughter the ice cube trays as she BUYS ice cubes from the supermarket!   

Hmm I'm sure she'll come round to your way eventually, we can only lead by example. I sometimes wonder about the money my son 'wastes'!!  I did wonder whether the pesto would go in the bags.

[compostqueen]

I made some yesterday GA. It's delicious. I looked at WW recipe and they don't mess with the original as it's so good

I made just the one jar but it uses a great heap of basil leaves. I had a tablespoon of it on warm pasta. Lovely!  Your husband must be crackers.   

[GrannieAnnie]

He is!!!!   

[snowdrops]

Years ago I was a nanny in France & learnt how to make spag bol, used loads of weird stuff like garlic & dried spag,only spag we'd had came out of a tin & you had it on toast. Anyway my Dad wouldn't touch the spag, always had potatoes instead. Years later he made chilli con carne & guess what he had with it,cos he wouldn't eat boiled rice (rice needs some milk). Yes you've guessed spag.

[shokkyy]

I tried making basil pesto last year, using the Delia recipe, and I didn't like it at all. There was a very strong vegetable sort of taste to it, I think the ratio of basil to oil must have been too high or something. Pity because her pesto rice salad recipe is lush, but I had to make it with shop pesto because I didn't like the stuff I made