This past week I celebrated another birthday and was lucky enough for my mom to come down to Greenville and spend some time with me. She got here on Wednesday evening and it's been non-stop fun since!
Unfortunately, I had to work on Thursday, but she got right to finishing up my birthday present. She made me a t-shirt quilt from various shirts from college. She is incredibly talented and does amazing work! I can't wait to have a whole Virginia Tech room at some point!
Unfortunately, I had to work on Thursday, but she got right to finishing up my birthday present. She made me a t-shirt quilt from various shirts from college. She is incredibly talented and does amazing work! I can't wait to have a whole Virginia Tech room at some point!
The next task for her to work on was specifically from me. The basil in our garden is growing out of control. One of my favorite things that my mom makes with basil is pesto. I remember making it at my grandma's house during the summer and how delicious it tastes on practically anything! Luckily, I had just the person here to make it...and of course it always tastes better when mom makes it.
Pesto is very simple to make and doesn't require many ingredients. However, it can be expensive. We ran by Costco to pick up the necessities in bulk. We used the following ingredients in the pesto: basil, olive oil, parmesan cheese, garlic and pine nuts. The amount of ingredients used can be variable based on your desired consistency and taste.
Pesto is very simple to make and doesn't require many ingredients. However, it can be expensive. We ran by Costco to pick up the necessities in bulk. We used the following ingredients in the pesto: basil, olive oil, parmesan cheese, garlic and pine nuts. The amount of ingredients used can be variable based on your desired consistency and taste.
To prepare the basil, my mom washed the leaves in the bath tub. Seems odd, but it's the best way to make sure that you get the bulk of it clean. That's why you see it in a towel to dry it.
We added ~3 Tbsp of pine nuts, a bit of garlic, parmesan cheese and olive oil to a food processor and chopped it. After that was finely chopped the basil was added and a touch more olive oil. Chop/Grind until completely combined and viola!
We added ~3 Tbsp of pine nuts, a bit of garlic, parmesan cheese and olive oil to a food processor and chopped it. After that was finely chopped the basil was added and a touch more olive oil. Chop/Grind until completely combined and viola!
We filled MULTIPLE containers with pesto and froze most of them for an easy meal. However, we couldn't resist tasting our makings that night for dinner. We broiled chicken breasts, boiled pasta and combined it all for a wonderful chicken pesto pasta. Easy and delicious.
What's your favorite way to use pesto?