Does any herb intoxicate the senses like summer basil? Inhale - and smile.
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Pasta salad with basil, sun-warmed tomatoes, and artichokes:
To hot, drained vermicelli add:
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Gently diced fresh tomatoes
As much sliced fresh basil as you want
A good drizzle of olive oil
Several squeezes of fresh lemon
chopped artichoke hearts from a jar
Kosher salt and pepper
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Pesto pasta:
If you have a cup of basil leaves, you can make pesto. This makes about 3/4's of a cup of pesto.
3 garlic cloves
1 cup basil leaves, firmly packed then sliced
about 1/2 - 3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1/2 cup parmesan cheese ( or none, or more)
kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper
juice of a half a fresh lemon
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Place the garlic cloves in a food processor and chop finely. Add the rest of the ingredients and blitz until smooth. This is highly adaptable to individual tastes - so feel free to experiment.
You can scrape this into a jam jar and stick in the freezer until January - when it will bring a smile to your face and a reminder of sweet summer days.
Or you can just toss gently with hot pasta and dig in. Use a little ( a few tablespoons) or a lot, like the whole jar:)
