Here's an easy recipe that'll put the basil growing in your garden to good use. We make a big batch of it to keep in the fridge, ready to toss on some pasta whenever someone's hungry. The recipe as written makes enough for about 3 boxes of pasta, so if you don't have the stream of hungry people coming through your house that we do, you might want to make a smaller quantity.


Sundried Tomato Pesto

12 ounces freshly grated parmesan
18-20 ounces sundried tomatoes in oil
4 cups fresh basil leaves
6 large cloves garlic
4 tablespoons pine nuts

Combine ingredients in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the chopping blade. Process until mixture reaches a smooth consistency and all ingredients are approximately the same size. (We don't have a food processor, but a hand blender does the trick.)

Add pesto to pasta, then add hot water to desired consistency. For one box of pasta I use about 1/3 of the pesto and 1/2 - 3/4 cup water. Garnish with some combination of grated Parmesan, pine nuts, and basil if you want to be all fancy like that.