Basil, Peppermint and Lime Sorbet

More iced confections! What, you thought I'd stopped experimenting? This burst of experimentation will go on until I've reached the end of my list of things to try, or the end of summer, whichever comes first. (Current length of experiment-list is... eleven items, not counting the tubs which are currently in the freezer.)

Tub 29:

This one was an improvisation, because I had ordered fresh Basil and they gave me "lightly dried basil" instead (which had added oil and salt - ugh!). So I made a Basil infusion with what I had. And it was rather bland, so I added other essences.

• 500ml boiling water
• 4 tablespoons "lightly dried" basil

Steep for five minutes.

• 3 tablespoons Natvia
• 1/4 teaspoon Peppermint essence
• 1/4 teaspoon Lime essence
• 1/2 teaspoon Guar Gum

The first flavour that hits you is the peppermint, but there's an interesting spicy-herb aftertaste which is the Basil. I didn't notice the lime at all. This was also a little bitter, presumably because I steeped the dried basil too long. Making a milkshake with this removes the bitterness, and while it may dilute the flavour, it also reduces the numbing effect of the cold, so that compensates for the dilution.

I think this is worth trying again with actual fresh basil. And the peppermint is a good combination with it, so long as I keep the amount down to 1/4 teaspoon. Peppermint tends to dominate anything you add it to.

ART: Hope

"Hope is a slighter, tougher thing than Trust. In a good season, one trusts life. In a bad season, one hopes." -- Ursula Le Guin.

I am doubly pleased with this one, because not only do I adore the imagery, but the background is a piece of fluid art that I had thought I would never be able to salvage - which just goes to show, one should never give up hope.

Fluid art. Digital art edited in GIMP. Using public-domain/royalty-free images.

Prints: Hope at RedBubble

( image behind cut )