Linda, you are a transformed woman with the addition of Leah to your team! You are really inspiring me to live my best life and gather some new friends and face a new phase of life as a learning opportunity. Thank you for sharing so much of your inner thoughts, it is a blessing to me. ❤
@@jtucker9576 I agree I had never seen blanching of basil. I wash my basil remove the leaves, throw it in the blender and put it with olive oil. Once it’s blend, I put it in freezer cups and when I want to use it, I take it out and that’s when I add the Parmesan, garlic and walnuts or pinenuts.
I also have never heard of blanching the basil leaves . I make it with fresh basil leaves . Wouldn’t the leaves be wilted and soggy when they are blanched ?
I think she does it to retain the color. I believe you can also make your pesto completely and then freeze your batches in ice cube trays and once they are frozen put them in a zip lock bag and just take out what you want and thaw in a moment’s notice.
Participated in an amaryllis race at work one year. We had 78 participants. Worked in a department with a wall of windows with a wide window sill. We placed our plants in the windows. So beautiful and so much fun!
Linda, I so love how faithful you are to your viewers by your frequent posts. I enjoy each and every one of your videos, always entertaining and educational. You are THE BEST! Thx for all you do. Want you to know how much I appreciate you, am sure your other viewers feel the same, thx.
Saw a tip from a gal that grows tons of amaryllis… soak just the roots for 12-24 hours, then plant… we did it and our bulbs sprouted VERY quickly… we used a water glass (set the bulbs on top of glass with roots in the water).
I've been making fresh garden pesto for years. I never blanch, and It never turns brown. I also make one big batch and then divided into ice cube trays, cover with clear wrap and freeze. Once completely frozen, I put the cubes in a freezer bag and we have pesto for months!
I make pesto with walnuts, too. I freeze it in ice cube trays and the transfer the cubes to freezer bags. My hubs adds a cube to his ramen soup and says it takes up a notch.
Love this! Last week my grandsons and I went hiking in the woods behind my house. We collected moss, bark, sticks, acorns, and leaves. We have a large bucket full. I now know what we can do with the bark! Thanks for all this inspiration!
Blanching basil I thought was used to mix with ingredients to store the mixed pesto in the freezer ready to go. I've always used fresh basil for pesto if I'm going to serve that meal that day.
Well, I learned something new-blanching basil for pesto. I pick mine from the garden and put them in my food processor with everything else and presto....I have pesto! I also freeze mine in 1/2 pint canning jars....it tastes wonderful and keeps very well in the freezer. The green is as fresh as when I picked it. I also have stopped using pine nuts (very expensive) and use walnuts and no one is the wiser. I love your idea of using the turkey feathers to embellish gift bags.....I have plenty of wild turkeys running thru my garden and gather feathers quite frequently. I am planting paper whites thru out the winter in containers. Makes the winter go so much faster. I purchased 100 from Color blends and will use some as gifts.
Hello Linda, I started growing Amaryllis after seeing one of your shows. I have enjoyed checking every single day for the progress and when they bloomed, I was in awe. Such a highlight to the cold winter months. Thank you for all your inspiration.
I really enjoy all the videos especially the Saturday ones this is the first time I noticed a cooking segment in here great things can be done with basil.
I never blanch my basil either. Simplify life. Put it all In the food processor and it’s done. I freeze mine in little jars also. I make it for one recipe. Spread pesto in baking dish. Add chicken tenderloins. Top with more pesto. Cover. Bake 400 for 20 minutes. Uncover. Sprinkle with feta cheese. Bake an additional 5 minutes. Serve with rice. Delicious!
Love the voices of Stewart and Leah in the background. It’s an “Apples to Gold” type feel! A part of our local church where the seasoned ladies teach the younger ladies cooking and gardening! It adds to your wonderful videos. ❤
I have never made pesto, as our SPROUTS store has the best, freshest, vibrant green pesto I have ever tasted. I didn't know I could freeze it! Love the Frigidaire toaster and need to put that on my Christmas list! The white is gorgeous. I was given an amaryllis 3 years ago when my friend moved to Idaho in December and didn't want to take it. It bloomed, then I put it outside on my patio in California. I have never brought it back in. Just leave it in the same spot and it has bloomed every year. Mine thrives on neglect. All I do is cut off the spent long leaves and the flower when they are done.
Thamk you Linda for showing your flower arragement… I love it ! So beautiful… Looking forward for more… And I love your mantel in the great room… nice to see that too…
6:53 p.m. Hello Bella..I cannot tell you how much I enjoy your videos and can't wait to see you and Angela together again. Have a wonderful time together ❤
Love love this episode! For years I’ve been a Martha Stewart fan and THIS episode reminded me so much of her! And you made one of my favorite things, Basil Pesto.❤ thanks so much for your time and creativity and elegance.
I'm sure you know this, but just in case, make sure to unplug your toaster when it's not in use. It reduces the risk of fire. On another note, you are always a joy to watch! ❤️
Linda, I really like most of your decorating ideas, and they give me inspiration to up my game! Amaryllis bulbs- I found that if you soak the roots for about 24 hours starting in luke warm water they will flower more quickly! Just stuff the roots in a glass container, then plant! Love the bark covered pots!
I toast my walnuts, too, and make enough garden pesto to enjoy fresh and at least 12 one cup jars in our freezer. Recently, I’ve been making a lot of oregano pesto since I have 100 + feet of oregano growing in our yard. Julie 🌷
THANK YOU for showing the tablescape items early!! I am completely changing my Christmas decor to blue and white and even if you don't use the same colors I always get inspiration from you! I have so many pinterest pictures but I am frozen until I see what you are doing this year. So, will be looking forward very anxiously to see what your Christmas table will be!!
I have always used kitchen/tea towels as napkins for the 4th of July cookouts and outside dining. Now, when we go on road trips l put a stack in my car to use when we eat in the car. The towels really keep both the car and us clean . My friend keeps them in her car , bc she is always driving her grandkids home from school and to activities.. usually they have snacks so it’s nice to give them big kitchen towels and not the little paper ones .
I love this episode!! So packed with information. Glad your hubby got his toaster --from the glimpses I've had of him, he reminds me of a young Earnest Hemingway. Do you see that too? What a great idea freezing individual bunches of blanched basil to use. Loved the bark pots too. I live in Florida and have amaryllis in my landscaping so I probably won't do the race BUT maybe attempt to keep a rosemary topiary alive! Also, speaking of rosemary, I make rosemary shortbread but I'm looking forward to your maple shortbread recipe. Thank you Linda and team!!🙌 Love your channel!!!
Loved your floral arrangement and the little tealight turkeys! You could put candy corn in them! Ha! Great idea for the amaryllis race! Carole from Tennessee
7:58am…. I saw on You Tube that you should soak the roots in water for 8 hrs before you plant your amaryllis bulb and that will speed up the growth. I’m trying that this year.
Hi Linda! I really enjoyed this video! I enjoyed learning how to make Pesto and pot up Amaryllis bulbs (I am planning to purchase one). Looking forward to setting up for Christmas with you. Have a great day! Hugs! :)
Placing the potted Amaryllis bulb in a warm spot will promote faster growth. I have placed them on top of the refrigerator (if possible) or used a plant heat mat set low. A warm, sunny window works, too. Just move away from the window if you have colder night temps. To get the bulb to rebloom the following year you need to let the leaves grow after the blooms are done. You can plant the bulb out side for the summer in the ground or in a pot. End of summer, let it get dryer, Then cut off the leaves and give it time to rest. In November replant in a fresh soil in a pot and start over!
I’m in California zone 10 I think. My amaryllis are in the ground all year long but did not bloom last year, some in pots and some in the ground. Hope they bloom this year. Any thing I can do force them?
I have never blanched my basil. What does blanching do? Mine stays beautifully green.., if I don’t have pine nuts I use pistachios… everyone loves the flavour
Hi from Annie again I love those turkey ideas you have they are fab and have never seen those brass little turkey lights as yo said can put treats in them rather than candles they are great. Your bulb planting is exciting we here in Australia have our summer now so I think it is a winter bloomer so you have them for xmas but we maybe have them in July season I have never done much in the way of bulbs always to afraid to make a mistake with them as they are all very expensive most bulbs they say have to be in the fridge or cold spot in shed etc how long for thou no one has ever made that very clear? I did years ago buy some daffodil and other bulbs like jonquils and gladiolas ages ago but put them straight in to the ground from packets and the mostly did grow I heard you can leave bulbs in the ground and they multiply or you can dig them up I rather leave them in the soil another great bulb is the Dahlia that is one of my fav ones my dad grew them well with lots of manure etc.
Stewart, keep Linda on track when she is adding ingredients then starts talking about something else then dumps ingredients in and doesn’t mention them 😂 I was like.. WAIT.. WAIT.. what was that you dumped in. .. puts another ingredient in states what that is and the next two not a mention.. LOL Linda !! 😂 . Very informative video.. I think I may do the Amaryllis challenge too! I love paper whites as well.. ❤
Linda, I loved this video! I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year and you’ve given me some great ideas. Your mantle is decorated so beautifully but I was wondering what you scent diffuser you are using in the small pitcher? I would love to know because I know you would only use the best! Plus, I want my house to smell good when my company comes over for thanksgiving!
OMG, Linda! What a huge ordeal. Why freeze the basil? Make the pesto and freeze that. No need to go through all the blanching and wrapping and messing around with it. We make pesto with fresh basil and then freeze in snack bags, then put the snack bags into a freezer bag. It only takes a few minutes to make pesto. We have enough in the freezer to last all winter. We also put fresh basil leaves in a freezer bag when we have a lot, toss in the freezer. After the leaves freeze crush them by just squeezing the bag. Then open it slightly and push out the excess air. I roll it from the bottom up. That usually eliminates almost all of the air. You can keep adding to the bag all season. Enough basil for sauces, pizza and soups all winter. As for the pesto staying green…….the olive oil in the pesto helps retain its green color. You can double or triple the recipe instead of making just one. You can also freeze it in an ice cube tray and then transfer to a freezer bag. I used to do that. The snack bag works a little better because you can get most of the air out and it doesn’t ice up over time. 💕😊
I’m glad you have had great experience doing it that way! But in my world the basil doesn’t stay green in the pesto unless I blanch it…or not as vibrant anyway. I could have used it all for pesto, but I wanted some of it to freeze for other purposes besides pesto without the olive oil:).
I just had pesto on fresh baked bread, I sit down to UA-cam, wondering why it looks like you're cooking, and then you say you're making pesto! How weird! :)
Linda, you are a transformed woman with the addition of Leah to your team! You are really inspiring me to live my best life and gather some new friends and face a new phase of life as a learning opportunity. Thank you for sharing so much of your inner thoughts, it is a blessing to me. ❤
I've never seen anyone blanch the basil to make Pesto. Interesting. I smash it fresh using a pestle and mortar with pine nuts, garlic, olive oil etc.
@@jtucker9576 I agree I had never seen blanching of basil. I wash my basil remove the leaves, throw it in the blender and put it with olive oil. Once it’s blend, I put it in freezer cups and when I want to use it, I take it out and that’s when I add the Parmesan, garlic and walnuts or pinenuts.
I also have never heard of blanching the basil leaves . I make it with fresh basil leaves . Wouldn’t the leaves be wilted and soggy when they are blanched ?
I think she does it to retain the color. I believe you can also make your pesto completely and then freeze your batches in ice cube trays and once they are frozen put them in a zip lock bag and just take out what you want and thaw in a moment’s notice.
Thank you , l’m not much of a cook , but l do grow basil and make pesto . Your answer makes sense to me .
I don’t blanch mine either.I have never tried to freeze the basil for later.
Participated in an amaryllis race at work one year. We had 78 participants. Worked in a department with a wall of windows with a wide window sill. We placed our plants in the windows. So beautiful and so much fun!
Linda, I so love how faithful you are to your viewers by your frequent posts. I enjoy each and every one of your videos, always entertaining and educational. You are THE BEST! Thx for all you do. Want you to know how much I appreciate you, am sure your other viewers feel the same, thx.
Yes! I agree.
Saw a tip from a gal that grows tons of amaryllis… soak just the roots for 12-24 hours, then plant… we did it and our bulbs sprouted VERY quickly… we used a water glass (set the bulbs on top of glass with roots in the water).
That’s Danielle from Northlawn Flower Farm. She’s great and, imo, an amaryllis expert. 😀
Great idea about amaryllis roots in water first.
I don’t blanch mine. Turns out perfect every time just throwing all the stuff in food processor and voila! It’s delish. No blanching required.
My grandparents are spinning…
I’ve never blanched, if you float olive oil on top it won’t turn brown. I may try blanching for fun
I've been making fresh garden pesto for years. I never blanch, and It never turns brown. I also make one big batch and then divided into ice cube trays, cover with clear wrap and freeze. Once completely frozen, I put the cubes in a freezer bag and we have pesto for months!
My 97 yr.old friend and I race every year, she usually wins. No prize, just fun and laughs.
I love this!!!!!
I love Linda's decorating videos!
Love your bark buckets. Great idea! Your fireplace looks really beautiful !❤
Blanching preserves color and flavor! Thank you for sharing.
I LOVE the amaryllis bulb race😂
Thank you for another delightful video. A word of CAUTION though, amaryllis can be toxic to cats and dogs. 🐾
The bark pots are a great idea and perfect for the bulbs. I think its going to be a stunning show once the Amaryllis start blooming.
I make pesto with walnuts, too. I freeze it in ice cube trays and the transfer the cubes to freezer bags. My hubs adds a cube to his ramen soup and says it takes up a notch.
@evalmoeyke...so why do you prefer walnuts verses pine nuts for your pesto... I have always used pine nuts...but I'm open to new ideas.
@@paulapeeler3157 I didn’t have pine nuts once so I added the toasted walnuts and like it best.
Love this! Last week my grandsons and I went hiking in the woods behind my house. We collected moss, bark, sticks, acorns, and leaves. We have a large bucket full. I now know what we can do with the bark! Thanks for all this inspiration!
Blanching basil I thought was used to mix with ingredients to store the mixed pesto in the freezer ready to go. I've always used fresh basil for pesto if I'm going to serve that meal that day.
Well, I learned something new-blanching basil for pesto. I pick mine from the garden and put them in my food processor with everything else and presto....I have pesto! I also freeze mine in 1/2 pint canning jars....it tastes wonderful and keeps very well in the freezer. The green is as fresh as when I picked it. I also have stopped using pine nuts (very expensive) and use walnuts and no one is the wiser. I love your idea of using the turkey feathers to embellish gift bags.....I have plenty of wild turkeys running thru my garden and gather feathers quite frequently. I am planting paper whites thru out the winter in containers. Makes the winter go so much faster. I purchased 100 from Color blends and will use some as gifts.
Hello Linda, I started growing Amaryllis after seeing one of your shows. I have enjoyed checking every single day for the progress and when they bloomed, I was in awe. Such a highlight to the cold winter months. Thank you for all your inspiration.
I really enjoy all the videos especially the Saturday ones this is the first time I noticed a cooking segment in here great things can be done with basil.
Thanks for the great ideas. You are an inspiration to this 74 yr old.
What fun...enjoyed your video so much. Thank you, Linda.
I also used small metal turkeys to decorate with. Mine were for my brothers grand children and they loved them as they had a bell inside the body. 🇨🇦
Love the turkeys and amerilis race...
I never blanch my basil either. Simplify life. Put it all In the food processor and it’s done. I freeze mine in little jars also. I make it for one recipe. Spread pesto in baking dish. Add chicken tenderloins. Top with more pesto. Cover. Bake 400 for 20 minutes. Uncover. Sprinkle with feta cheese. Bake an additional 5 minutes. Serve with rice. Delicious!
I’ve never grown amaryllis but I think you’ve just inspired me! 😍🧡💚
Love the voices of Stewart and Leah in the background. It’s an “Apples to Gold” type feel! A part of our local church where the seasoned ladies teach the younger ladies cooking and gardening! It adds to your wonderful videos. ❤
I have never made pesto, as our SPROUTS store has the best, freshest, vibrant green pesto I have ever tasted. I didn't know I could freeze it! Love the Frigidaire toaster and need to put that on my Christmas list! The white is gorgeous. I was given an amaryllis 3 years ago when my friend moved to Idaho in December and didn't want to take it. It bloomed, then I put it outside on my patio in California. I have never brought it back in. Just leave it in the same spot and it has bloomed every year. Mine thrives on neglect. All I do is cut off the spent long leaves and the flower when they are done.
Thamk you Linda for showing your flower arragement…
I love it ! So beautiful…
Looking forward for more…
And I love your mantel in the great room…
nice to see that too…
Blanched Basil???
A Harvest Lindor choc truffle ball would be adorable in the turkey candle holder…
Anything chocolate.....yum
Fun episode and the table basket arrangement is gorgeous!!
Linda, can we see more entertaining videos. Love all your videos.
6:53 p.m. Hello Bella..I cannot tell you how much I enjoy your videos and can't wait to see you and Angela together again. Have a wonderful time together ❤
One of my favorite videos. Thank you for getting me in the holiday mood! 🦃
I just love Linda’s shopping ideas. I have enjoyed the things I have gotten so much!
Love love this episode! For years I’ve been a Martha Stewart fan and THIS episode reminded me so much of her! And you made one of my favorite things, Basil Pesto.❤ thanks so much for your time and creativity and elegance.
I'm sure you know this, but just in case, make sure to unplug your toaster when it's not in use. It reduces the risk of fire. On another note, you are always a joy to watch! ❤️
Can't wait for the Christmas decorations 😍
Would love to know where you bought your sweater! It looks perfect for this weather and time of year! Love your videos!
Thank You Linda for so many tips, love watching your videos 👏❤️. Sending love from Rosie O from a rainy☔Devon England 🤗🇬🇧
🙏
I save my bulb netted bags for the bulbs I dig up that were grown in pots!
"I really think they're a hoot-- or a gobble?" LOL Linda you're a hoot!
Can’t wait to go in the basement!
All three of us sisters have November birthdays. Our youngest sister gives us an amaryllis bulb every year. The race is on!
Linda, I really like most of your decorating ideas, and they give me inspiration to up my game!
Amaryllis bulbs- I found that if you soak the roots for about 24 hours starting in luke warm water they will flower more quickly! Just stuff the roots in a glass container, then plant! Love the bark covered pots!
I toast my walnuts, too, and make enough garden pesto to enjoy fresh and at least 12 one cup jars in our freezer. Recently, I’ve been making a lot of oregano pesto since I have 100 + feet of oregano growing in our yard. Julie 🌷
THANK YOU for showing the tablescape items early!! I am completely changing my Christmas decor to blue and white and even if you don't use the same colors I always get inspiration from you! I have so many pinterest pictures but I am frozen until I see what you are doing this year. So, will be looking forward very anxiously to see what your Christmas table will be!!
PS I hope you are planning winter window boxes to show us with all your Christmas decor. 🌲
Love my garlic peeler😊 Thanks to my daughter!
I have always used kitchen/tea towels as napkins for the 4th of July cookouts and outside dining. Now, when we go on road trips l put a stack in my car to use when we eat in the car. The towels really keep both the car and us clean .
My friend keeps them in her car , bc she is always driving her grandkids home from school and to activities.. usually they have snacks so it’s nice to give them big kitchen towels and not the little paper ones .
Great idea!
Fun video!
I love this episode!! So packed with information. Glad your hubby got his toaster --from the glimpses I've had of him, he reminds me of a young Earnest Hemingway. Do you see that too?
What a great idea freezing individual bunches of blanched basil to use. Loved the bark pots too. I live in Florida and have amaryllis in my landscaping so I probably won't do the race BUT maybe attempt to keep a rosemary topiary alive!
Also, speaking of rosemary, I make rosemary shortbread but I'm looking forward to your maple shortbread recipe.
Thank you Linda and team!!🙌 Love your channel!!!
Great video. I always learn something. I am going to see if I can find some bulbs to start. I love this competition.
Love the bark pots. I did my amaryllis a month ago. I want to see my blooms during the season this year.
Always love these videos!!
The game's a foot, Linda, Leah and Stewart. I might just join in. Psst, I head soaking the roots in water for a few days gives them a head start.
Loved your floral arrangement and the little tealight turkeys! You could put candy corn in them! Ha! Great idea for the amaryllis race! Carole from Tennessee
7:58am…. I saw on You Tube that you should soak the roots in water for 8 hrs before you plant your amaryllis bulb and that will speed up the growth. I’m trying that this year.
Wonderful inspiration! Thank you!
Hi Linda! I really enjoyed this video! I enjoyed learning how to make Pesto and pot up Amaryllis bulbs (I am planning to purchase one). Looking forward to setting up for Christmas with you. Have a great day! Hugs! :)
Thanks for the links. BTW, I purchased the leaf blower that you used on a previous video. I love it!
Great video! Great ideas! Thank you sweet lady!
Thanks for sharing your pesto recipes I will def try this
Strange I’ve never heard of blanching the basil …fresh is soooooo nice ❤maybe I’ll try your way 😊
Love the videos! Fun to watch! Even though I will be in Thailand for the winter and have never grown amaryllis bulbs!! Thanks!! 😎🇨🇦
I've never heard of blanching basil. Just follow Ina Garten's recipe for basil pesto. It's the best!
I do paper whites like that. I put as many in pot as I can!!
I’m in.
🌹Love it .. thanks Linda 💚
Placing the potted Amaryllis bulb in a warm spot will promote faster growth. I have placed them on top of the refrigerator (if possible) or used a plant heat mat set low. A warm, sunny window works, too. Just move away from the window if you have colder night temps. To get the bulb to rebloom the following year you need to let the leaves grow after the blooms are done. You can plant the bulb out side for the summer in the ground or in a pot. End of summer, let it get dryer, Then cut off the leaves and give it time to rest. In November replant in a fresh soil in a pot and start over!
Yup!
To each his/her own, but I don't blanch mine. It tastes wonderful and stays a lovely green even after freezing it.
Great video good luck on who’s Amarillo blooms first.
Love all your recipes and suggestions, I would love to know more about the sweater you are wearing! Perfect for petite person!
Great content and ideas 🦃🦃🦃🦃
I’m in for the amaryllis bulb planting.
Definitely good to toast your nuts for that deep flavor!😊
Do you do that in your great room ? I would never have potting mix in my great room 😂. Lovely background tho 😆
I’m in California zone 10 I think. My amaryllis are in the ground all year long but did not bloom last year, some in pots and some in the ground. Hope they bloom this year. Any thing I can do force them?
I’m going to try the Amaryllis challenge!
I have never blanched my basil. What does blanching do?
Mine stays beautifully green.., if I don’t have pine nuts I use pistachios… everyone loves the flavour
Hi from Annie again I love those turkey ideas you have they are fab and have never seen those brass little turkey lights as yo said can put treats in them rather than candles they are great. Your bulb planting is exciting we here in Australia have our summer now so I think it is a winter bloomer so you have them for xmas but we maybe have them in July season I have never done much in the way of bulbs always to afraid to make a mistake with them as they are all very expensive most bulbs they say have to be in the fridge or cold spot in shed etc how long for thou no one has ever made that very clear? I did years ago buy some daffodil and other bulbs like jonquils and gladiolas ages ago but put them straight in to the ground from packets and the mostly did grow I heard you can leave bulbs in the ground and they multiply or you can dig them up I rather leave them in the soil another great bulb is the Dahlia that is one of my fav ones my dad grew them well with lots of manure etc.
Stewart, keep Linda on track when she is adding ingredients then starts talking about something else then dumps ingredients in and doesn’t mention them 😂
I was like.. WAIT.. WAIT.. what was that you dumped in. .. puts another ingredient in states what that is and the next two not a mention.. LOL Linda !! 😂
.
Very informative video.. I think I may do the Amaryllis challenge too! I love paper whites as well.. ❤
Lol! I’ll work on it!
@@LindaVater awe girlie, I’m just messin with you!!! ❤️ you gave me a good chuckle!
What size is the pot for the three amaryllis, please? Love you and your cutie team, Linda!
We want to meet Hubs! Love your channel also!
Is the maple shortbread cookie recipe somewhere?
Please share the link for the flower insert you used in the basket. Thank you!
amzn.to/3QM4RFO
Where can I find the link to the flower support that you put in your basket to arrange the hydrangeas? Thanks so much!
You don't even need to use any nuts. I use garlic, basil and olive oil.
Just chuck it all in the good processor 😂
Where did you get the precious leaf garland on your mantle?
Like from Assam
I'm in the amaryllis challenge
it not necessary to blanch your basil , that produces more water. I have been doing this for years it lasts in the freezer for a year
Linda, I loved this video! I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year and you’ve given me some great ideas. Your mantle is decorated so beautifully but I was wondering what you scent diffuser you are using in the small pitcher? I would love to know because I know you would only use the best! Plus, I want my house to smell good when my company comes over for thanksgiving!
There isn’t a scent diffuser in the pitcher…not sure which you are talking about?😁
OMG, Linda! What a huge ordeal. Why freeze the basil? Make the pesto and freeze that. No need to go through all the blanching and wrapping and messing around with it. We make pesto with fresh basil and then freeze in snack bags, then put the snack bags into a freezer bag. It only takes a few minutes to make pesto. We have enough in the freezer to last all winter. We also put fresh basil leaves in a freezer bag when we have a lot, toss in the freezer. After the leaves freeze crush them by just squeezing the bag. Then open it slightly and push out the excess air. I roll it from the bottom up. That usually eliminates almost all of the air. You can keep adding to the bag all season. Enough basil for sauces, pizza and soups all winter. As for the pesto staying green…….the olive oil in the pesto helps retain its green color. You can double or triple the recipe instead of making just one. You can also freeze it in an ice cube tray and then transfer to a freezer bag. I used to do that. The snack bag works a little better because you can get most of the air out and it doesn’t ice up over time. 💕😊
I’m glad you have had great experience doing it that way! But in my world the basil doesn’t stay green in the pesto unless I blanch it…or not as vibrant anyway. I could have used it all for pesto, but I wanted some of it to freeze for other purposes besides pesto without the olive oil:).
The amaryllis bulbs should not touch in containers. At least 1-2 apart. I was told that years ago. Hopefully they will be okay. 🌱🌺🌱
How can I join your newsletter? Is there a link? Thanks! Peggy
Dear Linda ,Did you mention my name and my husband name regarding tour,you will do? If yes, I was surprised. Thank you❤
What did you use to keep flowers in basket standing up?
Following, would love to know this too. I didn't see a link for it.
amzn.to/3MwGqcJ
I just had pesto on fresh baked bread, I sit down to UA-cam, wondering why it looks like you're cooking, and then you say you're making pesto! How weird! :)