Recipe : Basil Pesto

A Family Favorite

Enjoy this delicious pesto recipe that’s great on pasta, ensalata caprese, bruschetta and just about anything your heart desires.

Foodie Tips:

❤  Never use a knife to cut your basil leaves; always hand tear basil to prevent it from browning.

❤  Don’t underestimate the power of basil; it thrives in the Texas sun and loves water. Our garden usually has 4-5 basil plants that keep our kitchen filled with its deliciously aromatic fragrance.

❤  Vitamin C is a preservative that will help retain the beautiful green color of this pesto. If you’re going to enjoy the pesto fresh without storing leftovers, you can omit this ingredient.

Ingredients: 

2 Cups  |  Firmly Packed Fresh Basil Leaves
⅓ Cup  |  Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 Tablespoons  |  Pine Nuts, Toasted
½ Teaspoon  |  Garlic Cloves, Minced
To Taste  |  Gray Sea Salt
To Taste  |  Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Optional: Pinch  |  Powdered Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
¼ Cup  |  Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions: 

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. While it’s getting ready prepare an ice water bath in a large bowl.

2. Put the basil in a large sieve and plunge it into the boiling water. Immediately immerse all the basil and stir so that it blanches evenly. Blanch for about 15 seconds. Remove, shake off the excess water, then plunge the basil into the ice water bath and stir again so it cools as fast as possible. Drain well.

3. Squeeze the water out of the basil with your hands until very dry. Roughly chop the basil and put in a blender. Add the garlic, salt and pepper to taste, olive oil, pine nuts, and the Vitamin C, if using. Blend for at least 30 seconds. In this way the green of the basil will thoroughly color the oil. Add the cheese and pulse to combine.

The pesto will keep several days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Yields about ¾ cup, enough for 1 pound of pasta. Enjoy!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder and Foodie
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

❤ Love Food? In a click and a scroll you can visit more of my favorite recipes!

DIY : Italian Housewarming Basket

One of the most important of Italian traditions is to celebrate and welcome friends and family to their new home. This “recipe” is an easy way for you to honor their life event.

The items below have great significance and when combined, make a thoughtful and memorable gift from you to them!

Ingredients: 

Bread  |  So you will never go hungry
Wine  |  So you will never go thirsty
Salt  |  Sprinkled around doors and windows, for good luck
Olive Oil  |  Which represents good health
A Candle  |  Symbolizing light
Wood  |  To bring peace, harmony and stability to your new home

Tips:

For The Bread: We like giving an artisan loaf of Rosemary Bread from Central Market.

For The Wine: You can only “go right” with an Italian red. We found this Piccini Chianti at our local Twin Liquors.

For The Salt: We gift gray sea salt; it’s flavorful and prized by cooks around the globe.

For The Olive Oil: Try a first press olive oil in a glass dispenser to show-off it’s distinctive gold and green color.

For The Candle: We put an aromatic candle inside a decorative votive holder.

For The Wood: A high-end wooden cooking utensil – perhaps olive wood – will do the trick and will remind them of you each time they’re cooking in the kitchen. Here in Austin try Sur la Table.

What To Do:

1. Arrange the goodies in a small basket lined with a fabric napkin.

2. Top the basket treats with a handmade card (ours is shown above) with a printout of the ingredients list; when the recipient reads the history and learns the significance of the items, a smile (sometimes a tear) comes to their face.

Enjoy!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.