Classic Basil Pesto

Pesto, or what to do with all this Basil!

My Basil is very happy and is starting to flower.  Once a basil plant flowers it’s on its way out and the leaves aren’t as tasty; therefore, you want to pinch the flower buds off to keep the plant focused on leaf production.  Or, even better, prune heavily and use what you cut to make pesto!

It is so much easier to make pesto if you use a food processor. First, chop up the garlic.

Then pluck all the leaves off the stems and lightly packed them in a measuring cup for 4 cups total. It filled up the food processor’s work bowl.

Add in the parmesan cheese, pine nuts, salt, pepper and lemon juice and then drizzle in the olive oil and pretty soon, you’ll have some pesto like this!

Serve it on crackers for a lovely afternoon treat.

Here we have pesto on some toasted baguette slices topped with almond pieces. Accompanied by some more summer treats: fresh peaches on goat cheese drizzled with honey and bell pepper bites.

Pairs well with a delicate Harney & Son’s Jasmine Green Tea or Piper & Leaf’s Front Porch Special.

If you don’t use it all in a few days you can freeze it until you are ready to use it. You can even use an ice cube tray to freeze small servings. Once the cubes are frozen you can drop the blocks in a freezer bag and pull them out as needed.


CLASSIC BASIL PESTO

INGREDIENTS
4 garlic cloves
4 c fresh basil leaves – loosely packed
1 c grated parmesan cheese
2/3 c pine nuts or walnuts
1 T Winter Walnut Tea or your favorite black tea leaves (optional)
1 t kosher salt
1 t black pepper
1 T lemon juice
1/2 c extra-virgin olive oil

Finely chop garlic in food processor.

Add basil leaves and chop until fine.

Add cheese, pine nuts, tea leaves, salt, pepper to the workbowl.  Pulse until the consistency of a coarse paste.  Scraping down the bowl as needed.  Add the lemon juice.  With the food processor running, slowly add the olive oil through the feed tube until completely combined.

Store in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.  Freeze for up to 6 months.

 

Find more articles in this category: The Table

Garden Fresh Tea Treat

Summer’s hitting its full stride and the tomatoes are coming in by the truckload.  What to do?  What to do? This is just one day’s harvest of cherry tomatoes.  So I’m busy making all of my tomato recipes and busy freezing what I can’t cook.   But why not have an easy summertime tea treat?… Continue Reading

Find more articles in this category: The Table

Tea Cozy Talent

Do you crochet or knit? If not, you might be inspired to take it up after reading Audrey’s story. Plus knitting is just good for you. Studies show that knitting relieves symptoms of stress. The repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state like that associated with meditation and yoga. Once you get beyond… Continue Reading

Find more articles in this category: The Table

Bell Pepper Bites

Do you need an easy appetizer for your next tea party?  Here’s one of my go-tos, especially in the summer because I can go get a bell pepper right out of the garden. The fresh and crisp bell pepper is a nice contrast to the chewy scones and sandwiches.  It’s also a great gluten-free snack,… Continue Reading

Find more articles in this category: The Table

A Teapot With A Cause

This teapot is called “Coronation Meadows” and is made for nature lovers and tea lovers everywhere. Burleigh Pottery made this pattern for Highgrove, the country estate of HRH The Prince of Wales. The Coronation Meadows design was inspired by an effort in the U.K. lead by Prince Charles to ensure there is a wildflower meadow… Continue Reading

Find more articles in this category: The Table

A Simple Cup

  When asked if my cup is half-full or half empty, My only response is that I am thankful I have a cup.                                 — Sam Lefkowitz Continue Reading

Find more articles in this category: The Table

Tea and Cookies for the Holidays

Ooooh!  Something shiny! This Christmas teapot and cookie jar would fit right in with the other presents under the tree.  The colorful, shiny metallic paint on the wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows add sparkle to the room each year. It’s fun to put out decorations that are pretty and practical.  Keeping cookies fresh is an… Continue Reading

Find more articles in this category: The Table

Ham, Apple, & Goat Cheese Sandwiches

The air is starting to get crisp and the apples are coming in.  Enjoy the fall harvest with an easy and elegant Ham, Apple, & Goat Cheese tea sandwich for your next get-together with friends. Ingredients Honey Maple Ham 1/4 c. Belle Chevre Honey Breakfast Goat Cheese 2 T. fresh chopped Watercress Pink Lady Apples,… Continue Reading

Find more articles in this category: The Table

Rich. But Righteous.

Cat Island Cookie & Cracker Co. is a local, women owned business located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  They were kind enough to send a package of cookies and crackers in consideration for an unrestricted review of their products. This company seems to be doing many things right.  First of all, I love creative marketing… Continue Reading

Find more articles in this category: The Table

The Paradox of Tea

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company – Anonymous Zen Haiku photo credit: Daniel Hopkin   Continue Reading

Find more articles in this category: The Table