A strong flavored herb, basil has a rich flavor with a trace of mint and clove. It can be grown in a sunny window for various uses in tomato dishes and salads. It is the key ingredient in pesto sauce, the simple and delicious Italian pasta sauce.

If you've never considered yourself as having a green thumb before, growing fresh herbs is a terrific first step. They're also an important part of what Linda McCartney called a "living kitchen" in her vegetarian cookbook entitled, Home Cooking; Quick, Easy, And Economical Vegetarian Dishes for Today.

If you're going to grow one …