Basil Pesto Recipe

Yum! I love basil pesto.

One basil plant growing in my garden...I have lots!

I discovered my love for pesto when my new friend Susan, whom I met while working at D.S. Gardens this past spring, brought it to our employee luncheon party. Although the picnic table was loaded with delicious and healthy food, all I wanted to eat was her pesto.

After that, I believe I was solely responsible for selling out all of the basil plants we had in stock. If I saw anyone walking around with a tomato plant, I would bring over one of our beautiful 6 pack basil plants and say, "Did you know that basil is a companion plant for tomatoes?"...and then I would offer them a free sniff. As soon as the basil was under their nose I knew I had sold another 6 pack. My motives weren't to just make money for the garden center but to ensure no one left without having what I think is THE BEST herb for their garden. Well, I do like oregano, dill, sage, parsley, ha....okay I like herbs, but Basil is at the top of the list. There were a few occasions where customers wavered  even after a whiff of the herb but all I had to say was, "do you like pesto?" and that would be it. They would smile and take my 6 pack, sometimes two packs.

Suffice it to say, I planted a lot of basil myself this spring, right in front of my tomatoes. And it wasn't long before I was making pesto several times a week. We even started putting it on our pizza instead of our classic tomato sauce. Yeah, we love pesto around here...and did you know it freezes well too?

So on the heels of my post about what to do with all the tomatoes, I have to share my basil pesto recipe. I hope you grow to love it as much as I have this spring/summer. Next year, I'm going to plant even more because I want to freeze it....it never makes it into the freezer with our family. I've been eating so much this year I won't have any to dry either. Oh, and don't you think all that green is good for our bodies! You bet...up there with Kale!  Here is my recipe and some pictures.

Here are the main ingredients,,,thanks for the garlic dear brother in law Barrie!

Hope's Basil Pesto Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups of basil
2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup of pine nuts or walnuts
1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup of parmesan cheese
(not in the picture but additional items, kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, sprinkle of lemon juice)

Directions

Put basil, garlic cloves and nuts in a food processor and pulse it until they are ground really well.

Once well processed, add the oil, slowly to the consistency that you desire. I like my pesto a bit thicker but if you are making pesto to spread on a pizza or as a pasta sauce, you may want to add a bit more olive oil to make it thinner.Taste as you go.

Add the parmesan cheese and process really well.

Finally, add a pinch of salt, some freshly ground pepper and a
squeeze of fresh lemon, mix again then you are ready to dig in.

I like to eat my pesto with Triscuit crackers (Rosemary and Olive oil is my latest fav) but our oldest daughter Alyssa likes to eat it with a spoon, a big spoon, and if caught she has a guilty smile on her face. I wish you were here now Alyse to eat my latest pesto, 'cause it was delish, but interesting note, it did go farther than usual. It lasted all of an hour today.



I hope you like my recipe and plan to double your basil plants for next year too. Enjoy! In JOY!

This is a great afternoon snack for my family...but boy does it go fast!

Until, I see you again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope