Basil is a aromatic plant of the mint family with white flowers which probably originated in India. The leaves are generally light green and have a strong flavour of lemon and jasmine, liquorice and cloves and a warm, spicy smell. It is particularly good with tomatoes. Only use at the last moment, to enhance the flavour. The best variety for general use is probably Genovese, common or sweet basil.
A basin is a receptacle for liquids. A bowl. Things may be beaten and whisked in a basin, or washed.
A moist, hard, crumbly, goat’s milk cheese from Kent similar to Caerphilly. This cheese was the winner of a Silver Medal at the British Cheese Awards. A smoked version is also available.
Baskets are generally woven from willow or grasses, rushes or wicker. They come in all shapes and sizes, and may be used to transport fruit, shopping, shellfish, whatever it may be/. Smaller versions may appear in the kitchen containing fruit or bread.
The Basque Country, Pays Basque or Euskal-herri is a region which straddles the mountainous region of south western France and north western Spain, extending around the coast of the Bay of Biscay. It consists of the three French Basque provinces (Iparralde (north zone)) of Soule (Zuberoa in Basque), Lower Navarre (Behe Nafarroa in Basque, Basse-Navarre in French) and Labourd (Lapurdi in Basque) and four Spanish Basque provinces (Hegoalde (south zone)) of Álava (Araba in Basque), Guipúzcoa (Gipuzkoa in Basque), Navarre (Nafarroa in Basque, Navarra in Spanish) and Biscay (Bizkaia in Basque, Vizcaya in Spanish).
