Step 1

Homemade Basil Pesto

Step 2

Pick about 2 tightly packed cups of basil off your plant, wash them, and add them to your food processor

Step 3

Next add 3/4 cups of shredded Parmesan cheese 🧀

Step 4

Add 1/2 cup pine nuts or walnuts - I used pine nuts here

Step 5

Add at minimum 2 large garlic cloves - I LOVE garlic so I added about 6 small cloves

Step 6

1/4 cup lemon juice, or the juice of 2 small lemons. Warning! Pick out the seeds from your lemon!

Step 7

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Step 8

1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Don’t over-salt in this step. You can add more once you blend and taste it all together.

Step 9

BLEND BABY BLEND! Take the top off and push all the stuff on the sides down and continue blending till you have a nice smooth texture. Be sure to take a taste to check your salt and pepper and add more if needed.

Step 10

YUMMMMMM! That’s it! You did it! Now you can add to pasta or salads or breads, out in the fridge for about a week, or even freeze in an ice cube tray to use later! Easy and so delicious.

Step 11

Looking for an easy recipe to use with your pesto? Heat small cubes of ham and chopped frozen spinach in a pan till warmed. Then toss with pasta, your newly made pesto, and LOTS of Parmesan cheese for a delicious and quick meal!