What a wonderful, yet tiring day. I woke up sleepy after not sleeping well - choked down some coffee and headed into the office, t a seemingly tame day. It was overcast and just a sleepy day - it seemed that coffee wasn't being effective, but I got thru it. Finished up on time and went out on a long 44 mile training ride - out to Shirlington and back. It was strangely beautiful...perfect cycling weather, albeit overcast. Finished up and stopped by the store to get a few last minute things for the pesto I was going to make.
 photo by d. scott gregory Preparations for Homemade Pesto click on photo to enlarge |
|
 photo by d. scott gregory Roasted Garlic & Pepper click on photo to enlarge |
|
I have a laundry list of chores for the next few weeks - and some of which involve the trips both weekends out of town to Centuries. Tonight was vacuuming and bed laundry duty, teemed with making homemade pesto. Tomorrow night is cleaning/lubing my bike and cycling laundry, Thursday night is packing for trip (will leave from work on Friday). Oh the boorish details.
So tonight after I got most of my regular chores done and all laundry/vacuuming done...I settled into an hour of making homemade pesto. I got the basil from my parent's garden on Sunday. My place smells lovely - and I have about a quart of pesto...divided up. Life is good.
(here's the recipe:)
Scott's Homemade PestoKey to making fresh pesto is having a bountiful amount of fresh basil in the garden, and some fresh jalapeno peppers.
4 cups fresh basil leaves
1.5 cup fresh Italian parsley/cilantro
1 cup Romano or Pecorino cheese, grated
1 cup pine nuts, toasted
4 garlic cloves, roasted and roughly chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 small jalapeno pepper, roasted and minced
1 cup olive oil
3 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons water
Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Puree until the mixture forms a smooth, thick paste. Chill to keep fresh. Best served in a pasta dish, spread on a pizza with fresh mozzarella cheese, or as a dip, or as a spread for bruchetta.