Reason to Be Happy #6: Basil
The smell of basil is the aroma that most perfectly captures "summer" for me.
It also makes me happy to say the Italian word for basil:
basilico
(bah-ZEE-lee-koh)
(isn't that fun?)
PESTO RECIPE
(Given to me by Bill Anderson, the friend who introduced me to this reason to be happy)
Blend the following in a food processor:
3/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons walnuts (or pine nuts, or pistachios)*
clove garlic**
1/4 cup Parmesan***
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup BASIL leaves packed tight
Serve over pasta, or in risotto, or on fish, or on bread, or in caprice salad...there are few things that can't be made better with some basil pesto!
The smell of basil is the aroma that most perfectly captures "summer" for me.
It also makes me happy to say the Italian word for basil:
basilico
(bah-ZEE-lee-koh)
(isn't that fun?)
PESTO RECIPE
(Given to me by Bill Anderson, the friend who introduced me to this reason to be happy)
Blend the following in a food processor:
3/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons walnuts (or pine nuts, or pistachios)*
clove garlic**
1/4 cup Parmesan***
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup BASIL leaves packed tight
Serve over pasta, or in risotto, or on fish, or on bread, or in caprice salad...there are few things that can't be made better with some basil pesto!
*oh, come on, only 2 Tablespoons? I always put in a wee fistful
**Seriously? One clove? There's no such thing as too much garlic, in my opinion
***There's also no such thing as too much cheese. Ever. But save some to sprinkle on top, along with toasted pine nuts
**Seriously? One clove? There's no such thing as too much garlic, in my opinion
***There's also no such thing as too much cheese. Ever. But save some to sprinkle on top, along with toasted pine nuts
I love basil and pesto! Sadly mine aren't doing well this year so I buy most of mine cut at the Farmer's Market. You can also spoon a batch of pesto into ice cube trays and freeze for a taste of summer in the winter.
ReplyDeleteYum. I love pesto - and the basil plant on my porch is making me so happy.
ReplyDeleteMe, too. Me, too. And, Nicole, my basil is looking a little anemic right now...this troubles me! I wonder what's going on?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there is a substitution that can be made for the pine nut portion - a non-nutty substitution? What would happen if you just left it out? I like the idea of pesto but it is usually not safe for us.
ReplyDelete