Pesto Pasta

Even though I am a fan of weekly menu planning, every now and then I find myself not craving what was planned for a specific day or plans change and I need to think of a different dinner to make.  I will confess, Matt and I usually keep a jar of store bought pesto in the fridge for those occasions when I don't feel like doing much cooking. 

One night our plans changed and we decided we wanted to just have some pesto pasta.  I started boiling the water for the pasta and when I went to go get the pesto out of the fridge, I noticed there wasn't any pesto in there!  I realized I was growing my basil and parsley and decided to give this recipe for homemade pesto a try.  This was my first attempt at making homemade pesto, and I think it came out great!



Pesto Pasta

Pesto:

4 cups basil or parsley (or combination of both)

2 cloves garlic

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup walnuts

1/4 cup pignoli nuts

1/2 cup olive oil

salt and pepper

Pasta:

3/4 pound pasta of your choice (I used rotini)

1 cup peas

1/2 cup corn

Pesto:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spread the pine nuts or walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in the oven until golden and fragrant, tossing occasionally, 5 to 8 minutes.  Cool completely.

Place the walnuts, pignoli, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 15 seconds. Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. Use right away or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.

Pasta:
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain and toss into a bowl with the pesto. Cool to room temperature.

Yield: 4 cups pesto

Note: Air is the "enemy" of pesto. To freeze pesto, store in containers with a film of oil or plastic wrap directly on top with the air pressed out.

Inspired by Everyday Food: Great Food Fast by Martha Stewart Living and Ina Garten