desertrose

I love basil too and find many uses for pesto. I make flat bread veggie piza and use pesto for the sauce. I just spread it on the flat breads, add red onions, roast red peppers, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, black olive slices and top with freshly grated parmesan chees. Bake in 400 degree oven for 15-17 minutes. Yum


Bow Tie Pasta with Chicken & pesto

1 lb. chicken tenders grilled or poached

Fresh Pesto

1/2 box of Bow Tie Pasta

Cut up cooked chicken into bite size pieces, add to cooked pasta and mix with pesto. Top off with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve with salad and Crusty Italian Bread or garlic bread.

PS out of season I use fresh spinach in place of basil for the pesto.

sueisallaboutquilts

Oh no! Garlic makes it :(
I use my Cuisinart and then add olive oil and garlic when I put it in the jar.
You could also do what the other person said and put it in ice cubes. But what is life w/o garlic- poor guy !
I really can't think of a substitute for it. Shallots are sort of a cross b/t onion and garlic - can he eat them?
I use a lot of grated Romano cheese in mine too. It's really expensive in Ohio but when we go home to NY we buy as many chunks of it as we can fit :)
Edit- I may be wrong about shallots and besides, pesto doesn't usually have any onions.

golfer

I just made this last evening.
Spaghetti with creamy ricotta pesto
by Silvana Nardone, from NO-RECIPE ZONE. Google it.

My husband and I enjoyed it. We had to add a little more extra virgin olive oil.

If you cannot find it, let me know and I will type it up for you.

Barbara (The Golfer)

BarbZ

SUE, WHAT AMOUNT OF FRESH BASIL DO YOU USE TO THE AMOUNT OF OLIVEOIL. I HAVE 4 PLANTS AND THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD SIZE.

sueisallaboutquilts

Barb, I make whatever amount I have. After all the basil is ground up put in enough olive oil to keep it moist. I don't have specific amounts- just make sure it stays moist :)

BarbZ

THANKS, WILL GIVE IT A TRY.

patchsamkim

Thanks everyone for all the ideas...I knew if I asked I would get answers...now I can enjoy basil in new ways...and by keeping in refrigerator with olive oil, can enjoy it for months...love that suggestion!!

sewbeeit42

Basil Butter
1 1/2 cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 pound butter, softened
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon seasoned pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

In a food processor, chop basil, Add butter, lemon juice, pepper and garlic salt; blend until smooth. Drop by half-tablespoons onto a baking sheet; freeze.

Remove from baking sheet and store in freezer bags. Use to flavor chicken, fish or vegetables. Yield: 4 dozen butter balls.