Books & Cooks Letter B: Basil

This year I’m going to be combining two of my passions – cooking and kid lit for Books & Cooks! I’ll be bringing you great recipes based on spices of the alphabet that pair perfectly with kid lit books! Next up? The letter B and delicious Basil!

Spice: Basil

There’s something about the smell of basil when you break a leaf off the stem. It smells so fresh. And it reminds me of hot summer nights with fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden sliced with a little mozzarella for a light snack. But, my favorite thing to do is make pesto? Lots of fresh basil, olive oil, garlic, and salty parmesan. Pesto is great just mixed up with some pasta or you can throw it in with a jar of tomato sauce for a little more flavor. And add a little more olive oil to make the perfect dip for bread.

Book Review: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

How could I not choose this book for this spice? I just book talked this book on my library’s Facebook alive event yesterday and here’s the gist of what I said. This book holds a special place in my heart. It’s a story I’ve read a number of times since I was little and I love it more every time. It’s the story of Claudia and Jamie Kincaid who run away from home to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. They sleep in a bed from the 16th century, take a bath in the fountain, and explore every nook and crank of the museum. 

While there, they learn of a mystery involving Michelangelo and a statue called Angel. They start their own research at the New York Public Library to learn the truth which leads them to meet Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

Recipe: Fresh Basil Pesto

This is a simple recipe that tastes so fresh and yummy! What I love about this recipe is that you can sub some of the basil with baby spinach! And you won’t even notice, I promise! You get extra nutrients (and save a little money too). Plus, if you omit the parmesan, you can freeze pesto and have it for months to come. A tip? Freeze individual portions in an ice cube tray and then once they’ve frozen, put them in a Ziploc bag. Pull one or two out as you need them, add the parmesan, maybe a little more olive oil if necessary and dinner is ready!

During the month of April, I’ll be participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2020. For my theme this year (Books & Cooks), I’ll be combing children’s books with cooking spices and including a recipe to bring the book into your very own kitchen! I love to cook and read, so I thought this would be a fun way to combine two of my passions. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! Let’s dig in! And if you want to see what I’ve done in the past, check out the past few years – 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019!