Mmmmmmmmm classic pesto. I stocked up on some basil at the farmers market today so that I could make this recipe. Just so happens I picked up this recipe at one of the vendors earlier this summer.
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BASIL PESTO
From the Earthkeeper Farm stand (and they credit Simply in Season)
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1 cup packed fresh basil
1-3 cloves garlic (I always go big on the garlic)
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
3-6 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese
2 sprigs parsley
1/3 - 1/2 cup olive oil
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Blend in food processor until smooth. Use immediately or refrigerate.
Tip: Freeze leftover pesto in ice cube trays. Store cubes in ziplock bag in the freezer and you can have fresh pesto all summer long.
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The first time I made this recipe, I didn't have any parsley on hand. No big deal--not a necessity to make good pesto. It still tasted excellent. Here are 10 things you could do with a simple batch of pesto:
1. Mix with freshly cooked hot pasta. Eat immediately!
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2. Spread on inside of bread (touching the cheese) to make Italian grilled cheese. Use a nice white melting cheese like mozzarella, fontina, or provolone as your cheese.
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3. Mix with cold cooked pasta for a pesto pasta salad. Add some diced tomatoes, peppers, hard salami or pepperoni (whatever you normally put in a pasta salad).
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4. Use as your sauce for making pizza instead of (or layered with) the red or white sauce you normally use. Especially delicious when making a chicken/alfredo/spinach pizza.
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5. Jacked-up bruschetta: spread some pesto on small slices of crusty bread, top with ricotta, then add diced tomatoes that have been swimming in balsalmic vinegar for a while.
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6. Stir into cooked rice for a burst of flavor to an otherwise bland starch.
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7. Marinade: My husband marinated some chicken breasts in left over pesto, then grilled them.
After grilling the first side, he added a couple more tablespoons to the top of each piece. Holy cow--some of the best grilled chicken I've ever had. It would be fabulous on fish or shrimp, too!
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8. Soup: Add a tablespoon to a bowl of tomato soup in the winter? Yum.
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9. Alfredo sauce: For a twist on your normal alfredo sauce (either jarred) or homemade, add some pesto. Remember to go slowly and taste often. You can always add more, but you can't take it back!
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10. Go Dr. Seuss: Make some green eggs and ham. Add a bit of pesto to your uncooked eggs before you scramble, or garnish your Italian omelet.
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