Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Escape to Scapes

Our little two week "Escape" to the East Coast
has come to an end (more about our travels on a future post).



The trailer has been cleaned out,
the laundry dumped on the laundry room floor
The food refrigerated and the stuff hauled out.

There is much to do but the garden, which grew by leaps and bounds, along with the weeds,
was calling out to me.
The garlic scapes need to be pinched off - now what to do with them all!?




I think the dishes and laundry will wait while I make some Pesto out of these beauties ....



Thankfully I had all the ingredients needed:

5 or 6 garlic scapes (bulb removed) coarsely chopped (approx. 1 Cup)
Several sprigs of Dill - coarsely chopped
6 - 8 Basil leaves - coarsely chopped
Zest and juice from 1/2 a lemon
1/2 Cup of Pine Nuts - toasted and cooled
3/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea Salt and Pepper to taste

Place all the ingredients except the Olive Oil and the pine nuts into a food processor
or blender (I used my Vitamix blender).
Pulse till chopped and fully incorporated.
Slowly add the Olive Oil while the food processor is running until the Pesto is finely chopped and thickened.
Now add the Pine nuts and pulse to slightly chop the nuts.
Taste to see if more seasoning is needed.

Store in airtight containers and freeze.
To store in fridge - pour a thin layer of Olive Oil over top and it will keep
for several weeks.
Another idea is to freeze the Pesto in an ice cube tray.
When frozen remove and store frozen "cubes" in a freezer bag.

It turned out great - oh, I wish you could smell this - so yummy!



Now for a cup of tea in my beautiful new piece of pottery.
Yep, the dishes and laundry will just have to wait.
There might be garlic scape Pesto pasta to go with some bbq chicken for supper tonight?

My new Wendy Johnston Pottery Tea Cup - Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick
http:/wendyjohnstonpottery.com


Till next time ........ what are some of your favourite Pesto recipes?


11 comments:

  1. Hi, I know it's been some time....but I'm still here recuperating slowly...and getting better.
    Anyways I have so much beautiful basil growing in my garden and this recipe looks better than mine..
    I will make this and I usually freeze a few jars for the winter...it's totally yummy.
    I must check back on your posts. I've missed you.

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  2. Your pesto looks delicious! I have only made pesto once. As I recall, my recipe was similar to yours, but without the dill or lemon. If my basil produces well, I'd like to make it again this year.

    I am looking forward to hearing about your trip! And, if I recall, isn't that new grandbaby due to arrive soon? Or has he/she already arrived?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have a very good memory Cheryl! "She" is due to arrive on July 9th. I've got my ticket booked and am getting beyond excited. Hope your basil produces better than mine - it's not great this year for whatever reason. I was glad to have a few leaves to add to this pesto recipe however.

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  3. Hope you had a wonderful trip, Rosella! Looking forward to reading more about it. That pesto looks fantastic! I wish I could smell it, too. That;s a great photo of the three jars!

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  4. Oh Hopewell Cape...much of my family hails from there. Hope that you weren't too cold! The mug is very pretty.

    The pesto looks yummy.. Too bad the garden weeds didn't go on vacation, too.

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  5. Coming home from a vacation is a lot of work, but I like your priorities-the garden first! I do the same thing.

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  6. I doubled the recipe and used hazelnuts instead...because that's what I had in my house....YUMMY!

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  7. Oh a couple more things....I always go straight to my garden after a vacation...it's calling my name too.
    Secondly I was wondering about baby...I think that's the first....how joyous! I am so excited for you.
    Thirdly, I love your garden banner on top of your page...it's beautiful
    Licking my fingers.....

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  8. The pesto looks yummy and I like your new tea cup! Will wait to hear about your
    East Coast trip!

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  9. Mmmm, that looks delicious, Rosella! I can almost, just almost, smell it!

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  10. I think my feed makes me miss some of your posts. Your pesto looks delicious!

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