Fresh basil pesto made from my homegrown basil plant! :D

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese…a little less if you’d like to substitute the already-grated kind.
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
• 1.5-2 tbsp minced garlic (depending on taste)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

You will need: A food processor

1. Put the basil and nuts in the food processor and pulse a few times, until the basil is well-chopped.
2. Add garlic and pulse a few more times to mix.
3. Add the olive oil a little bit at a time and pulse in between…you have to decide how much to add on your own, based on the consistency you prefer. (I like mine a little thick, so I only use about 1/3 cup.) In between, scrape down the sides of the food processor with a spatula.
4. Add your cheese and pulse again to blend.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.

There you have it! I love to use mine for sandwiches with grilled chicken, feta cheese, spinach, and tomatoes. Also, I love to use the same ingredients over pasta, or to make pizza. It’s also great on toast, or baked onto italian bread with mozzarella cheese and brown sugar! YUM!