It’s the time of the year for that big outdoor BBQ party. But steak, hamburgers and hot dogs are getting a bit gauche. Chicken breasts, if bought on sale, cost about the same as hamburgers or hot dogs and a lot less than steak. Basil is the most wonderful flavor and herb in the world. This combination will amaze you.

I suggest that you buy breasts on bone rather than skinless and boneless. They are much cheaper (currently available for less than $1 a pound), BBQ more evenly and produce more flavor that the bland skinless.style. You can force the flavoring  under the skin if that is desired and remove the skin later. If you have a two or three burner BBQ, or a kettle, follow the indirect cooking directions for chicken located in the BBQ Flare-up feature as shown on the index at the top of this page.  After you fall in love with the flavor of basil, run out and buy a 6 or 8 Pak at your nursery for $3 and plant them all  in a sunny part of the yard. Basil grows easily and quickly and will produce about $30 worth of fresh herbs by the end of the season if properly planted, fertilized and protected against snails. You will never be without a Basil plant again.