Because basil is finicky to grow from seed outdoors—and doesn’t last as long once it gets going—we’re currently on our second planting of basil in the indoor Aerogarden, timed (hopefully) to coincide with the ripening of our larger heirloom tomatoes. Unfortunately, this means we’re currently having to buy basil, as I did for a lemon-basil cake I made for a party this past weekend. Do you have any idea how much basil costs in the store? Either $1.99 for a few limp sprigs packed into a plastic clamshell case, or upward of $3.50 for a “hydroponically grown” (with, incomprehensibly, dirt clods attached to the roots) or living bunch. You’d better believe I’m using every last minuscule leaf of that stuff. All I had left was enough for a sprinkling over this vaguely Greek-inspired pasta, which is good hot but even better cold as a salad. I must say, though, the basil completely made the dish, and may have earned it a spot in our regular rotation once the home-grown basil gets going.
As below it makes about 4 large servings. As previously mentioned, it’s fine hot but even better—in my opinion—cold.
• 12 oz. pasta of your choice: $1
• 20-25 kalamata olives, slivered (we buy a big jar of these at Costco—they keep forever in their brine): 50 cents
• 4 T cream: 20 cents
• 4 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated: $1.50
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped: 5 cents
• 3 T olive oil: 18 cents
• A few large handfuls of basil, torn (I’m not counting this since it came out of another budget and we don’t usually buy it): $0
• Juice of 1 1/2-2 lemons, to taste: 60 cents
• Salt & pepper: 2 cents
TOTAL: $4.05/4 = $1.01/serving
Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Return to the pot and add the garlic, olive oil, olives, cream, Parmesan, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste (you might not need any salt because of the cheese and olives). Serve with a generous sprinkling of torn basil leaves.
The $35 a Week Project 
I have so much basil that we grew from seed outdoors I don’t know what to do with it all. You can see pictures on my blog and you can see what I’ve done so far. I’ve made basil garlic cubes in the freezer and basil olive oil. Any other tips? I want to use it all up as well before it goes off. I’ve been using it in salads, sauces you name it. I’m just amazed at how much it grew and to think I picked up 4 packets from the dollar store. You are right about $1.99 for a small packet at the shop of fresh basil. I’m with you, I want to use it all up! Cheers Mr.CBB… check out the post if you get a second.. I believe under Mr.CBB’s Kitchen.
I left a couple ideas in your comments—you could also incorporate a bunch of basil and a chopped tomato into a soufflé or risotto, or make a basil simple syrup to keep on hand for basil lemonade or creative cocktails.
Would love it you had the PIN IT for pinterest and I could pin some of your recipes to my Pinterest boards. I have it on my wordpress.
You know, I’m on WordPress.com, which doesn’t have a “pin it” button option. I did figure out how to add it manually, so I was doing it for a while, but it was a cumbersome process and taking way longer than I had time for, so now I just post each $35 a Week recipe to Pinterest myself under my own account; you’ll see them if you follow me on Pinterest.
I’m on wordpress.com and have the PIN IT on mine… it is there so you don’t have to add anything manually which would be tediousl.
Maybe the theme I’m using doesn’t have it…I can’t find the option for it anywhere.
Dashboard, Settings, Sharing- you drag and drop and pinterest is one of them. Hope that helps.
Aha!! It worked! Thank you so much!
Awesome now I can pin your awesome recipes…