Pesto …or how to quiet a crowd.

Let’s face it the internet really doesn’t need another pesto recipe. I mean we all get it.. you can freeze it in ice cube trays…message received…but then what?  My whole life I was very “meh” about pesto…it was all licoricy and blah…I never saw what the big deal was.  One day with a mass of fresh basil I started mixing different ingredients that I had on hand…and a strong love affair with the green sauce was formed…..not just with me, but with everyone who tries it.    I think it must be the lemon juice and cilantro…and for you cilantro haters out there don’t worry you never taste the cilantro I think it must just mellow out the licorice flavor of the basil.  I have been asked a few times recently how to make mine, since it is dairy free…and way more cost effective then regular pine nut pesto.  So now I will have a handy place to send people for the recipe.  This recipe just evolved from my husband’s dietary restrictions and learning more about raw eating.  My pesto is so incredibly raw and healthy and vegan that even the hardcore vegan raw foodie from Songs of Water swirled his finger on the corners of his plate so as not to leave one little green drop behind.  And true to my kitchen it may be all good and healthy…. but it is ohh so good.  My babies cheeks gleam shiny pestoy and happy when they finish mounds of pasta with this pesto.

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Can I just be real and tell you a good pesto story…One of my best friends and I sat at a cook out and two very smart ,very great guys started giving each other a hard time…you know how guys do it…anyway the one (the very alpha male of the crew) would.not.let.up….and I sat there watching this and getting slowly ticked…and the other not so alpha male was just taking the verbal lashing (oh you know how guys can be…all in good fun…humph). I thought I was the only one who was noticing this… but my sweet as pie friend who never so much as squints her eyes in a dirty look…whispers, “What a jerk!” (OK so she said something worse) she never talks like that…me with my wide eyes ,I mean let’s face it I am the older sister type…I am a protector…but when my adorable friend blurted that out…all I knew was to pop a huge fork full of pestoed pasta into her mouth….and then for those who know me…I may have stood up and made it very clear exactly who was the alpha…I may have.  But this story is about pesto…and not about handing someone their….anywayss…

this pesto is so great it can quiet a crowd.

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So let’s take all that mystery out of pesto and just whip it up…whatever you have on hand…add plenty of sea salt..and let’s do this….WAIT!  you don’t have pasta on hand??….that’s okay this sauce loves to be drizzled over a summer salad a nice wrap  or  dolloped on the side of your plate and  dipped by a bite of    grass-fed organic steak (Sorry folks this  is where this girl’s vegan raw food comes to a crashing halt…I love meat).  If you are just out of nearly everything…cut open a juicy tomato warm out of the sunshine and garden and slather it with this pesto….and you are welcome in advance.

(and you dear readers who keep asking if I will make a recipe book of these cards….I love you, I do. But I will gladly just give them to you. It is compliment enough that you keep encouraging me to make more handmade recipe cards…well you and the little cutie sitting next to me at the computer who thinks they make beautiful fans, as her 2 year old self sings along to the music fanning herself with the “purdy cawds momma”. Thank you and feel free to pin it or print it…or pass them around)

Springy Strawberry Shortcake
Chicken Curry Salad

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