Pesto

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups of fresh organic basil packed, rinsed 
• 1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts (Pine Nuts are becoming hard to find-Trader Joe's carries them, but walnuts work perfectly too if you can't find pine!)
• 3 cloves garlic
• lemon or lemon juice
• sea salt & ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

In a food processor add basil and pine nuts and pulse until chopped...if you are using walnuts process/chop them first before adding the basil.  Add in garlic cloves and a squirt or two of lemon juice and pulse again for about 10 seconds.  Slowly add in olive oil and pulse.  Add Parmesan and salt & pepper to taste and pulse until very well blended.  Pesto is delicious tossed in hot quinoa pasta (a great gluten free alternative) or spread on gluten free turkey sandwiches or gluten free baguettes ("Pamela's Bread Mix" found at Whole foods makes a great gluten free baguette)! 

I keep a stock of jam jars in my pantry (you can buy these sweet jars in multiple sizes at your local grocery store) for making pesto and tapenade as Holiday gifts or thank you gifts!  Tie on a ribbon, add a small gift tag listing the ingredients (in case some one has allergies too) and it makes a lovely little home made gift!