Basil Pesto

Bright green pesto makes for a nutritious & delicious dip or pasta sauce

Ingredients:

1⁄4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds, walnuts or pine nuts

3 cups fresh basil leaves

1⁄2 cup olive oil

salt to taste

Optional Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic, lightly crushed with a heavy knife handle and peeled

1⁄2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese or Romano pecorino cheese

juice of 1 lemon

Ingredients:

1⁄4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds, walnuts or pine nuts

3 cups fresh basil leaves

1⁄2 cup olive oil

salt to taste

Optional Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic, lightly crushed with a heavy knife handle and peeled

1⁄2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese or Romano pecorino cheese

juice of 1 lemon

Directions:

Toast the nuts or seeds until they smell delicious. (You can do this on a cookie sheet in the oven, in your toaster oven, or in a pan on the stove over low heat, stirring regularly.) Put all the ingredients in your food processor and grind until it turns into a smooth paste. Taste and add more cheese or oil or lemon juice or nuts or garlic until it seems right to you.