Title: Blender Pesto
Categories: Sauce Pasta Rice
Yield: 6 Servings
| 2 | c | Basil leaves, fresh packed |
| 1/2 | c | Oil, olive |
| 2 | tb | Pine nuts |
| 2 | | Garlic cloves; peeled |
| 1 | ts | Salt |
| 1/2 | c | Cheese, parmesan; grated |
| 2 | tb | Cheese, romano; grated |
| 3 | tb | Butter |
Put the basil, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic cloves and salt in the blender
or food processor, (I use the food processor), and mix at high speed. Stop
from time to time and scrape the ingredients down toward the bottom with a
rubber spatula. When the ingredients are evenly blended, pour into a bowl
and beat in the two grated cheeses by hand. (This is not much work, and it
results in a more interesting texture and better flavor than you get when
you mix in the cheese in the blender.) When the cheese has been evenly
incorporated into the other ingredients, beat in the butter (softened to
room temperature). Before spooning the pesto over pasta, add to it a
tablespoon or so of the hot water in which the pasta has been cooked.
Katie's Note: Pesto freezes very well, so I make as much of it as I can
when basil is in season. (Basil is also very easy to grow, and produces a
lot). Spoon each serving (about 3 T) into small muffin tins and freeze.
When frozen, pop out cubes and put in plastic bags. This way, if you are
just cooking for yourself, or for more, it's always available. I try to
have enough on hand in the freezer in September, so I can have it, one way
or another, once a week or so until about the next July, when I can begin
to harvest my next crop.