Basil is a Busy Buffer

It’s been a busy week, running a range of emotions. The kind of week that fills you with all the feelings. From the highs of watching my youngest graduate high school, to terrifying lows of an early morning call that my parents were in a car accident. It’s been a week of endings and interruptions. The kind that leaves your heart full in one moment and then heavy the next. This week has been busy and stress filled. 

But then there’s the family dinner on the calendar for Friday night. It gives me a glimmer of joy just to see it pencilled in. We’re celebrating a birthday, so I want to make this dinner extra special. The birthday girl wants pasta, and what goes great with pasta? Roasted chicken. 

Now, for the better part of 20 years, I’ve used Italian dressing as my go-to marinate for chicken. It gives a great flavor. And for all the years when I was raising children, it’s absolutely the simplest way to get great chicken on the table. But not tonight. Tonight needs to be extra special. So I grab my kitchen scissors and head out to the garden. 

I walk to my basil pot hanging from the ligustrum tree and run my fingers through the big leaves, releasing a fragrant scent. I land on a hearty stem that has 15-20 leaves attached. With the click of the scissors, I clip the stem and head back into the kitchen to remove the leaves and give them a light wash. Stacking the leaves and holding them steady, I chop them into tiny pieces. With the perfect mix of lemon juice, olive oil, red pepper flakes and garlic, I add this freshly chopped basil to create a marinade. Allow the chicken to rest in it for about an hour, before oven roasting it. 

The interesting thing about basil is that it’s known to lower your body’s response to stress. Basil acts as a buffer to stress. No wonder, there’s something so special, so medicinal and calming about working with fresh ingredients. 

Come to me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28