Truth be told, I was never a fan of touching mud and getting my hands dirty. So much so, that the only kinds of greenery that you will find inside my home are jars filled with bamboo, supported by water. Nothing else. Not a single pot with a speck of mud. But that summer of 2011, I had this sudden urge to create a veggie patch of my own in our tiny, badly maintained back yard. I had somehow convinced myself that this was what I really wanted to do, all by myself, and as soon as possible. So while the rest of my clan looked at me like I had lost it, the ever-supportive Hubby Dear ran to start the car and we dashed off to a nearby nursery with Baby Dear in tow. A couple of hours later we were back, arms loaded with stuff and heads loaded with knowledge and tips. We had decided to try our hand at container gardening, and I knew I wanted to begin with cherry tomatoes, basil and cilantro. I guess I really surprised myself and everyone else, because every summer since, we’ve been buying more planters to add to the mix. This past summer we had an abundance of 2 kinds of tomatoes, 2 kinds of chillies, 2 kinds of peppers, lettuce, cilantro, mint, Italian and Thai basil (which I used for this Basil Fried Rice). It’s been a fun learning process and not to mention, a complete joy to have Baby Dear dash off outside with my basket to pick fresh tomatoes and herbs around dinnertime, for meals like this Basil Fried Rice. And for those wondering, I still don’t get my hands dirty with mud – the kind lady I met the nursery on that first visit convinced me that a good pair of gardening gloves were just as important for me to embark on my project as the best kind of organic soil was. And boy was she right! If you like this recipe, you will surely like my Egg Fried Rice. Tried this recipe? Leave a Comment and let me know, also Rate it by clicking the number of stars on the recipe card. Want to share your version with me? Tag me on Instagram @hookedonheat
