Pesto Pasta

When my wonderful sister was home a few weeks ago she made pesto for me. I had never really had it before but always wanted to try it because it can be used for so many things and is very healthy! And my friend Jess showed how it can easily be made ahead and saved.

In a blender, food processor, magic bullet, etc:)...

10-12 fresh basil leaves
2 Tbs of pine nuts
2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbs fresh lemon or lime juice
1-2 cloves of garlic
1 tsp salt

Blend it all together until a green paste forms, mix with hot pasta, and another 2 Tbs of pine nuts, then serve. The fun thing with pesto is that you can totally mix it up to the way you like it. Go more or less on any of the above ingredients. The basic pesto is some form of leafy green blended with nuts and olive oil. If you don't have fresh basil leaves, you can also use spinach and add basil spice to get a similar flavor. Feel free to add a small chunk of Parmesan cheese to the mix... you can even serve this as an appetizer over some bread.

For ours, April used spinach instead of basil and lime. She also said that if you don't have pine nuts (organic ones are very expensive) walnuts are a good (but different) alternative. I think almonds would be good as well.

We tossed the pesto with some whole wheat organic Amish noodles that I get at Sensenig's or Perrydell Dairy. My apologies for the pictures, I forgot about taking them until it was almost gone! Here's 2 different pics, one w/out flash and one with...both of them do not show the depth of the green :)