Instructions: "This buttery egg sauce is fashioned after classical French bearnaise, but substitutes basil for tarragon."

Boil together first 5 ingredients in a small heavy saucepan until liquid is reduced to about 2 tb. Remove from heat; set aside.

In a clean saucepan, melt butter; remove from heat when it begins to bubble. Meanwhile, place egg yolks in container of blender. Set a small sieve over opening and pour basil-shallot reduction through this and into the blender jar. Press solids with back of a spoon to extract all juices, then discard solids.

Place blender top on and blend briefly at high speed. Remove small inner cap from the lid. With blender running at high speed, add hot butter in a thin, slow stream. Blend until mixture thickens and machine begins to sound clogged. Add salt and chopped basil to taste.

Serve warm. (To keep ahead of time, place near a warm stove element or in a pan of warm water.) Good over grilled hamburgers and baked potatoes; also delicious with green vegetables, poultry, fish and egg dishes.

For Bearnaise Sauce: Substitute tarragon vinegar for basil vinegar and chopped fresh tarragon for basil.

Yield: About one cup.

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