Fresh basil has got to be one of my favorite scents of all time. There's just something about it that makes me happy.
The basil in my garden is getting lush and plentiful, so I decided it was time to whip up my first batch of homemade pesto. I didn't use a recipe. I grabbed a couple of hand fulls of basil, washed it, and put it into my chopper. Then, I added olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese and almonds. Really... almonds? I know you're supposed to use pine nuts, but I didn't have any. Any mom can probably relate that it's much easier to substitute an ingredient vs. taking your two little kids to the supermarket right before dinner time. So, in the almonds went, and they worked just fine.
Once all of my ingredients were in the chopper, I just pulsed it until it was the right consistency. I added my homemade Pesto to somecooked tri-color tortellini and ripegrape tomatoes (cut in halves). It was a feast for the senses. The pesto smelled delicious and the bright red tomatoes from a local farm were absolutely amazing!
If you decide to make homemade Pesto, you can either wing it, like I did, or use this recipe from the Food Network.
And, don't forget to remind your husband...
"A man taking basil from a woman will love her always." -Sir Thomas Moore