In article ,
Penelope Periwinkle wrote:

Not to worry about flowers or seed pods. They seem to have a lot of the
flavor that you are looking for in basil, if you are making pesto. I
usually pick them first and then fill in with whatever leaves I need to
fill my blender halfway.

Just a note: blending the leaves is a heck of a lot easier if you chop
them up a little first. Do this just before they go into the blender.

The other delight with basil is bruschetta Any bread will do but I
prefer baguettes, toast one side of the bread, rub it with garlic,
drizzel with olive oil, cover with basil, cover with coins of tomatoes,
sprinkle with parmesan, and broil until cheese starts to brown. Serve
with green salad and you have the reason why you garden for a simple,
healthy summer meal.