Garden Fresh Pesto

by Diane Hopkins on July 12, 2010

I love Italian food, and that delicious taste of garlic and basil is never better than in homemade pesto! Pesto is super easy to make, tastes gourmet, and is nutritious. Grow lots of basil in your garden, and you can freeze this tasty topping for wintertime, garden fresh cooking.

Garden Fresh Pesto

2 cups fresh basil leaves and soft stems (or 1 cup basil + 1 cup spinach leaves)

1/2 cup parmesan or romano cheese

1/2 cup olive oil

1/3 cup walnuts (use pine nuts to be authentic!)

3 medium garlic cloves, peeled

Put all ingredients into the blender and blend on high until smooth. Serve with bagel chips, crackers, raw veggies, as a sauce instead of tomato sauce on pizza, or toss pasta in it. Also great spread on sandwiches (panini-style). Once you taste this, you won’t forget it, and you’ll find ways to cook with it: salad dressing, topping for baked potatoes, on grilled chicken, etc.!

Stash your summer basil in the freezer to use all winter long. Just omit the cheese when you make pesto, and freeze in plastic containers. To use, thaw and stir in cheese.

Yummy!

Enjoy a garden fresh taste all year long!

Tagged as: basil, garden pesto, pesto

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

MrsK July 23, 2010 at 5:55 pm: I made my first batch of pesto the other day with my garden herbs. I harvested bunches and bunches of thyme, lemon grass, basil, rosemary, chives, and more. The room I'm drying it in smells awesome! : )
Julianna July 13, 2010 at 5:24 pm: Looks yum! Can't wait to try it. Thanks.
Susan July 12, 2010 at 6:13 pm: Yum, Diane! Pesto is an entirely different creation when made with fresh picked herbs! One our "to-enjoy" list! Thank you.

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I'm Diane Hopkins, mom of 7 children and in my 25th year of the wonderful adventure of homeschooling! I now have 8 grandchildren, too—so fun! I love living in the country, growing my garden, cooking naturally, and focusing on my family. I'm the author of Happy Phonics, a national award-winning phonics program, and several other homeschool books. I also design modest swimsuits (see below). I'm passionate about the subject of educating kids in a fun and loving way!

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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

MrsK July 23, 2010 at 5:55 pm: I made my first batch of pesto the other day with my garden herbs. I harvested bunches and bunches of thyme, lemon grass, basil, rosemary, chives, and more. The room I'm drying it in smells awesome! : )
Julianna July 13, 2010 at 5:24 pm: Looks yum! Can't wait to try it. Thanks.
Susan July 12, 2010 at 6:13 pm: Yum, Diane! Pesto is an entirely different creation when made with fresh picked herbs! One our "to-enjoy" list! Thank you.

Leave a Comment

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

MrsK July 23, 2010 at 5:55 pm: I made my first batch of pesto the other day with my garden herbs. I harvested bunches and bunches of thyme, lemon grass, basil, rosemary, chives, and more. The room I'm drying it in smells awesome! : )
Julianna July 13, 2010 at 5:24 pm: Looks yum! Can't wait to try it. Thanks.
Susan July 12, 2010 at 6:13 pm: Yum, Diane! Pesto is an entirely different creation when made with fresh picked herbs! One our "to-enjoy" list! Thank you.

Leave a Comment