Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

The First Basil - Dinner in the Garden

Basil is a warm blooded herb
So I don't even plant my basil until June
When the soil is warm
And the days are warm.

Last Friday, I got it planted
And when I plant, I cut it back by about a third
So that it will bush out

This first "clipping" is my first basil harvest



Which I did today -- a nice harvest and I have only three plants!
I like large leaf basil -- the bigger the better
It makes pesto making easier -- if you have large leaves!

And what did we do with the basil?
Well, we enjoyed dinner in the garden


The blue and white transferware, of course
A white lace tablecloth and white linen napkins
And a centerpiece of white geraniums


A bottle of wine


And a plate of pasta
linguini with a sauce of fire roasted Muir Glen tomatoes and fresh garlic
A big shower of basil and a good sprinkle of Parm
A great meal for al fresco dining

And besides the pasta


We had a cherry tart with vanilla ice cream
I'd like to say it was homemade, but . . . 
well, a girl can't make everything can she!



It's Thursday and I'm sharing my al fresco table with Susan at Between Naps On the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

6 comments:

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

Delicious! I'm putting a white Geranium on the table. It's in an old chache pot of my mother's and makes me happy two ways. Reading about your home and garden always makes me happy, Martha!

Unknown said...

Yum! The food looks wonderful, can I come over?! And the table looks so pretty!

Alycia Nichols said...

OH, m'gosh! Not just pretty, but the food and wine look so good I could just reach in the computer screen and snatch it!!! You caught a lovely day (one of the few we've had here in the Midwest lately!), and I'm glad you were able to get out on the patio to enjoy your feast.

I planted my basil in June, too, and all of this rain has really been a big help to get it on its merry little way. I got the large leaf, too, because I like to make bruschetta. We're having Italian tonight, so I think I'll take a cue from you and shred some leaves on top for extra flavor!

Beautiful! Just beautiful! Have a glorious weekend!!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful outdoor setting! I have a bumper crop of basil also and love using it all summer. These plates are beautiful backdrops to your yummy-looking pasta.

Michelle said...

Beautiful light in your photos...it all looks so pretty and delicious! Love the brick path in your garden.

Pondside said...

Martha, through all your posts, one word keeps coming to my mind - civilised. Your life at Linderhof is just so very, beautifully civilised.