Basil the herb of love

Basil
There are many rituals and beliefs associated with basil. The French call basil l'herbe royale. Jewish folklore suggests it adds strength while fasting. It is a symbol of love in present-day Italy, but represented hatred in ancient Greece, and European lore sometimes claims that basil is a symbol of Satan. African legend claims that basil protects against scorpions

Preserving Basil
one method of preserving all the flavour of basil is to layer the leaves in a jar, and lightly salt them. Cover the leaves with a layer of olive oil. Seal the lid tightly and place in a cool, dark spot or refrigerate. Use the leaves as needed and reseal each time. This will keep up to six months. The oil soon becomes infused with the essence of the basil, making it ideal for use in dressings or in pastas.

Basil pesto

1 cup fresh basil
1 cup fresh spinach
½ cup pine nuts
3 large garlic cloves
½ teaspoon black pepper, fresh ground
½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Place the basil, spinach, pinenuts and garlic into a food processor and pulse a few times to mix and chop everything.
Add the salt and pepper then slowly add the olive oil whilst the processor is going.
Add extra salt and pepper if required.

Variations
You could use walnuts instead of pine nuts, chop these up a bit first.
Rocket could be used instead of the spinach and basil for a different flavour