For the Love of Pesto
It’s been a LONG time since I have blogged. I am just really wondering who reads it?!
Regardless, I need to be inspired to write, need to have something I feel is worth sharing and I need to take the time to do it. This is something worth sharing 🙂
So, here is today’s thought – actually coming from my daughter, who said yesterday, “Mom, you need to make some pesto.”
PESTO. For breakfast, lunch or dinner. On eggs, on pasta, with raw vegetables, on rice, on zoodles, with grilled veggies, on eggs, on a sandwich, mixed with chicken salad, mixed with avocado, over grilled chicken or fish…..I could go on and on.
Usually pesto is made with pine nuts. Pine nuts give pesto an earthy, rich flavor with a creamy consistency. BUT, pine nuts are ridiculously expensive!! Â Also, basil. And you need quite a bit of it. Unless you have basil growing in your garden, it too can be quite costly, once you buy enough to make your pesto. So, here is my delicious, cost-effective alternative.
Basil-Walnut Pesto
**I buy my walnuts in bulk at Costco**
2 cups packed fresh basil
2 cups packed organic baby spinach
3 cloves of fresh garlic
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 tsp each pink salt and fresh pepper
3/4 cup grated pecorino romano cheese
1/2 cup olive oil (more or less for desired consistency)
Add all ingredients to a food processor, except for the oil, and pulse until blended/chopped. Add oil and blend until smooth (desired consistency). Store in an air tight, glass container until ready to use for up to one week.
Enjoy!! Â Let me know how yours turns out.