Thursday, August 5, 2010

Homemade Pesto From The Garden

There is nothing like homemade pesto from fresh basil in the garden.

After picking the basil, Mr. A trimmed off the flowers.
He had researched the best recipe earlier in the day and had all his ingredients ready.

The garlic and then the roasted pine nuts go in the food processor first.
Then the basil.

While that processed, olive oil is slowly added.

Pepper....

And salt.

Juice of half a lemon. Parmesan cheese is then grated.

And added last.


What a pretty color!

Whole wheat linguini, fresh pesto with parmesan cheese.

Add barbecued ginger chicken skewers and a salad of arugula, pear and goat cheese.
That was our summer dinner a few nights ago. Recipe as follows:

Homemade Pesto

3 cloves garlic
1/2 C. roasted pine nuts
3 C. basil leaves
2/3 C. olive oil
1 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
juice of 1/2 lemon
2/3 C. parmesan cheese coarsely ground

Process the garlic first, then the pine nuts. Add the basil leaves. Pour in the olive oil, juice of half a lemon, salt and pepper while processing. Add the coarsely ground parmesan cheese last.

I'm joining Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday!
Thanks Michael for hosting!
I'm also sharing this recipe with everyone at Get Healthy Cheap.
Pin It!

26 comments:

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

Yum! I love growing fresh basil too ... it is so easy to grow!

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

Oh how YUMMY! I'll be right over;)!

Enjoy!
Cathy

Nancie Mills Pipgras said...

I love a man who is handy in the kitchen! Go Mr. A! How are you two ever going to go back to the City?

Trouvais said...

Delores...you are going to LOVE Italy! Mr. A did a great job...love that color! XO Trish

Beth said...

Delores, The pesto looks great! I am admiring your stunning blog - I love your large photos. Simply beautiful!
Blessings, Beth

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Delores,

That is a yummy recipe with such lush and FRESH basil! By the way, the Arabain Family olive oil is that your own brand?!

Greetings from Georgia,

MariettesBacktoBasics

shannon i olson said...

Very nice....my basil does not want to grow so well this year. Lots of small leaves.

Rettabug said...

Delores, please tell your DH that I'm VERY impressed with his culinary skills!! Mine can fry balony...that's about it. LOL

How wonderful that you could use your OWN family's harvest olives in the olive oil for your recipes!! That is SO cool!

I will share this recipe with DD, who just cut all my fresh basil. They love pesto at their house. Me...not so much. I grow it so I can use little bits of basil in cooking but she harvests the bulk of it. I don't mind. I just like to grow it. :-)

Thanks for your sweet comments about my sweet Caroline. She is truly the light of my life!!
You'll understand once your kids start reproducing...just wait!!

fondly,
Rett

Vanessa said...

So glad to see that someone's basil is doing well. Ours is struggling here in the beautiful NW! I have figured out how to make pesto with parsely and walnuts though and it is delicious!
Vanessa
http://southerninmyheart.blogspot.com

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

I can smell the basil. I love pesto and pasta and I will have to try that recipe. I just need a nice food processor like that one. I have a little one. I guess I can use my blender.

Rachel said...

Mmmmmm- fresh parm! That pesto is a MUST! I look forward to trying it out! YUM! And those Ginger Chicken Skewers look TO DIE FOR!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Rachel

A Lasting First Impression said...

I love pesto, and fresh from your garden...so great. That dinner sounds amazing! Love the pictures, thanks for sharing!

Jacqueline said...

My favorite thing in the garden is the basil. I love the way my hands smell after I pinch some off. Mine is wanting to bolt so I am out pinching it often these days. I love, love, love pesto and could eat it on just about anything. Your pasta looks fabulous and the ginger glaze sounds great.

Kathysue said...

Delores that looks heavenly to me, Fresh Pesto, YUM!!! I drove past your lovely hometown on my way to Half Moon Bay today, I waved to YOU!! Kathysue

. said...

I looooove home made pesto - there's nothing quite like it is there?! Will have to wait a couple more months for our Aussie summer before my basil is thriving before I can make a batch!
Found your lovely blog on Designs by Gollum!

Julie @ Get Healthy Cheap said...

Absolutely beautiful AND delicious! I never really knew how easy it was to make homemade pesto.

I'd love for you to share this recipe with my readers at my blog carnival.

Family Food Fridays

Anonymous said...

I have a pesto recipe a friend gave me years ago: no lemon, but add some sweet vermouth! It's the best one I have ever found; try it!

Tamra said...

I spy an "Arabian Family" label. Interesting.

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Oh yes, you're right... there's nothing like a batch of homemade pesto! Btw, I LOVE your kitchen (at least what I could see of it). Love, love, love!

:)
ButterYum

Sue Murphy said...

I have a huge basil plant on the kitchen counter. I think I will give your pesto recipe a try tonight. Thanks.

Marie-Andrée said...

Huumm!!! this smell.... You can keep the flowers and put them in a salad or mix them with cheese cream... delicious!

the country cook said...

You have convinced me that I need a basil garden AND a food processor. That looks wonderful! - www.delightfulcountrycookin.com

Acanthus and Acorn said...

I am going to have to try your receipe...it looks so good!

Btw...saw lots of painted roosters today at Macy's on sale...in case you need a few more!

Anonymous said...

I love homemade pesto--using it on pasta is a great idea!

Heather at Dusty Bay said...

Thanks for the basil recipe, I'll have to try it. I have one for you - it's my favorite sandwich EVER: bread, basil, havarti, and honey. Oh my gosh - YUM. You could add tomato too...

Unknown said...

My basil is ready to harvest and I'm thinking Tuesday will be the day. I want to make a ton of this stuff and freeze it for all those winter nights! Thanks for the recipe. It looks like a really good one!

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