Pesto

I had a dinner on Friday, and was asked to bring Pesto. The request was mad becauseI have one of the best recipes ever.

We went to Italy for two weeks a couple of years back. We spent seven days in the middle of the trip in a villa in Tuscany. We wanted to experience local life in a small town, and we wanted to COOK. Before we went we took an Italian cooking lesson from a lovely lady who grew up in Turin, Italy.

She taught this Pesto recipe, and it's the best I've ever tasted.

4 Cups Basil
2 Clove Garlic
¼ Cup Pine Nuts
1 Cup Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbs. Heavy Cream
Olive Oil

Combine first six ingredients in your food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.

Scrape down sides and give a quick pulse.

Stream in Olive Oil until pesto is desired consistency.

Serve over warm pasta. Delicious!

Friends For Dinner

We had some neighbors over for dinner Tuesday night.

MENU:

Marinara with Italian Sausage on Penne
Green Salad with Vinaigrette
Bread with good Olive Oil

I love a good marinara sauce. And I'm not talking about the stuff in a jar. This takes all of fifteen minutes to make. Step away from the Ragu people!

Here's what you need:

• Half an Onion, diced
• Garlic , clove or two, minced
• 1 lb. + Italian Sausage (Bulk)
• 28 oz. can Crushed Tomato (I prefer Di Napoli)

  

  
  
• 2 Tbs. Tomato Paste
• Salt/Pepper/Italian Seasoning
• Red Wine
• Sugar?

Sauté onion and some garlic in some olive oil.
Break up a pound or so of Italian Sausage in the pan and brown. You can use any pan, but I think a good sauté pan makes the best sauce.
Deglaze pan with a 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes.
Squirt in some tomato paste. (This is where having the stuff in the tube on hand in the fridge , beats the canned stuff.)

Season to taste with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
Simmer for five minutes and thin with red wine as needed.
Sometimes I add a pinch or two of sugar, sometimes not. Just taste and you'll know.
A little fresh basil on top is a nice touch too.

You can do a veggie version too. Substitute a pound of sliced mushrooms and a diced zucchini for the sausage and you've got a healthy alternative!

Bon Apitito!