Basil Cubes

Fall is coming and it's time to close down the herb garden.  Most of this year there was nothing happening there, so I got into the habit of not paying it any mind.  Eventually, though, the many plantings of basil seeds apparently took hold and now the space is packed with basils of every ilk!

Most years I am caught by frost before I remember that basil can't take even a mediocre frosting and in the morning I am greeted by dreary droopy black plants.  There have been years when I managed to get some sweet basil into the house and hanging from the rafters, but if I do this before we are ready to start up the woodstove, the fragrant bundles end up molding from within.  This year I am determined to not let this sumptuous bounty go to waste!

I believe that basil cubes may be the answer!


Basil cubes are extremely easy to make, and of course the same process can be used for any other herbs you might want to keep over the winter.  Simply mince the fresh leaves,

stuff them into ice cube trays,

add water (or broth, vinegar or other flavorful liquid)

and pop into the freezer. 

When the cubes are fully frozen just loose them from the trays, drop them into freezer bags or containers, and quickly return them to the freezer.

Now you have minced basil that can be used in almost any way that fresh minced basil can be used!  What could be easier?