They were purdy. I didn't think about a pic until it was too late. How about a picture of dessert instead - S'mores cookies:

Perfect time to learn. For pho, the broth might be a slog, but there's always instant broth just to get you started. One other thing to try, although I've never done it, are basil crisps... just take the leaves and drop them in hot oil. If not for a snack, might make for an interesting crispy topping.

A local bakery makes S'mores cookies similar to that.

Throw some of that basil on those pizzas you make after they come out of the oven. Also Caprese salads. Make basil butter and freeze it---a slice of basil butter is good on salmon or veggies or potatoes--it will just melt all over them.

Stunning.

Yep - fresh picked basil and oregano on last night's pizza. Love the basil butter idea. I bet that's really good on several kinds of fish.
We also told our neighbor today to stop over and pick some basil whenever she wants .

Hmm...are you sure you aren't my husband? Because that was us last year! I planted annuals in the ground, perennials in pots and had mint gone wild. This year I pulled out all of the mint (well, except for one little bit that keeps popping up between pavers) and put it in a pot, I bought a vertical planter that now is home to mainly annuals herbs (three kinds of thyme, rosemary, cilantro, parsley, dill, marjoram and oregano) and I've moved the thyme to the bed with the chives. I still have sage in a pot because I was sure it wasn't going to come back this spring, so I bought a new one, and now I have two sage plants -- it will get transplanted into the ground at some point. The reorganization, plus the addition of my garden plot a few blocks away, means I'm using about five fewer big pots (24" in diameter) than last year and am using considerably less patio space.

I have also used basil and other herbs in cocktails. If not drinking, it would probably be good in lemonade.

Strawberry basil lemonade is popular around here.

Roy’s for Mahalo Monday. Other than a 6-7 minute wait for someone to show up at the front desk, everything was great.



Mahi-Mahi, Salmon, Ahi Tuna and Misoyaki Butterfish

Filet Mignon and lobster tail, with scalloped potatoes

Kid’s grill Teriyaki Salmon

We had our second meal at a place we'd been meaning to try for ages but only got to for the first time a few weeks ago. (Bat 17 in Evanston for the Chicagoans, a place modeled after Zingerman's in Ann Arbor.)

Buffalo bites

Bodacious sandwich (roast turkey, swiss and slaw on grilled sourdough
Onion Strings

Sketchbook hazy IPA
I told Mr. CE, who had a burger, that we need to start splitting sandwiches here.

He's not a buffalo chicken person but agreed to the bites and declared them delicious "dipped in Ranch"...I waited until he ate a few more before telling him it was blue cheese, which he also professes to dislike. (He then claimed that maybe a few pieces of blue fell into the ranch, before admitting that maybe two negatives make a positive.)

Misoyaki Butterfish at Roy’s is one of best things that has ever entered my mouth.

Still had something after an enormous lunch .. & some



Yong Tau Fu ( primarily stuffed beancurd in various forms ) curry mee

Fishballs in soup

Hilton beachfront resort, Santa Barbara ca

Nashville hot chicken sandwich

Commonly found in Singapore Airlines' Silver Kris Lounges in the morning. Chwee kueh mostly a breakfast dish in Singapore.

Cedar Key Fl - order of 25 steamed clams containing 38 clams.


Blackened grouper sandwich. Came with fries and cole slaw.