Basil Flowers and Home Made Pizza

I had received some basil seeds and a pot for my birthday last year from hubby's friend. Maybe one would think what a strange birthday present! I have since got used to it, because the Dutch love anything to do with plants and flowers. For birthdays, celebrations and funerals, the best gift to get if you are not sure what to get are flowers. Nothing can go wrong with flowers.

After a few months of receiving the seeds, then only I planted it. Could say that I was lazy and not very interested. Yet today, the plant has blossomed into a very healthy herb plant and has even sprouted out flowers. I had no idea that basils had flowers in the first place. I now use the basil for pasta, pizza and nearly all types of Western food as it tastes good.





On Thursday for lunch, for the first time I went completely out of my diet. I went out with a group of Malaysian expats to what was supposedly the best Japanese restaurant in the Netherlands serving authentic cuisine. It was an hours drive away from Alkmaar just to go there to eat and back, but being Malaysians, we are hunters of the best food. The serving of ramen with roast pork was huge but mouth-watering. First I thought of eating just a teeny-weeny bit of noodles to keep up with the diet. But I just couldn't resist and ended up finishing the whole bowl and left with only very little soup. Although I drank most of the soup, I did not feel thirsty afterwards. No ajinomoto I would say.

On Thursday for dinner, I stir-fried some kidney beans, long beans, bell pepper, corn and onion.

Then I put tomato paste on the pizza base. Nope, I did not make the base from scratch. I bought it pre-made at the grocery store.

Then I added the medley of vegetables on top of the pizza.

As if it was not enough (for I am a very hungry person!), I added more tomato paste on top of the vegetables although it was not necessary at all.

Finally I put the pizza in the oven for 10 minutes at 225'C.

Home-made pizza tastes the best, I believe! Or maybe because I made it myself...