Homemade Basil Pesto

My awesome friend and web designer, Theresa Wagar, kicks off the Grace on Parade recipe blog with her recipe for Homemade Basil Pesto.  (I’ve always wanted to know how to make pesto.  Thanks, Theresa!)

With the cool rains and abundant sunshine this summer, my basil plants are over running their beds!  Here’s a healthy and yummy solution to use up some of the excess basil in your garden.

Basil Pesto can be added to so many dishes.  It goes quickly in our house.  Add it as a spread to bread or toast.  Add it to spaghetti or any pasta dish.  We especially like it spread on top of grilled chicken.   How do you use this delicious fresh addition to your cooking?

Homemade Basil Pesto

Good friends share recipes. Thanks to my wonderful web designer and friend, Theresa Wagar, for sharing this simple recipe.

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Ingredients

  

• 4 cups basil leaves, removed from stems
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 2-3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

 

• Place all ingredients except olive oil into a food processor.

  Pulse ingredients on low until everything is starting to get the proper consistency.

  Pour in the olive oil SLOWLY. It’s important that this is done slowly since olive oil can become bitter and emulsify if processed too quickly.

  Once processed remove from the processor and put into a glass storage container such as a jar.Add a splash of lemon juice and stir. Do a taste test and add a little more salt and pepper if needed.

Notes

Use a good quality, fresh Parmesan cheese instead of the processed grated kind.

This should keep in the fridge for about a week but you can also put it in the freezer and it should be good for a couple months.