Easy Peasy Pesto

This is a Jamie Oliver recipe and one of the simplest, versatile and satisfying food to make. Trust me you don't need a fancy food processor (although it will make it a little easier) grab your pestle and mortar and get cracking!

Ingredients

1/2 clove of garlic chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
3 handfuls of fresh basil
Handful of pine nuts
Handful of fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Extra virgin olive oil
Pound garlic with a pinch of salt and the basil leaves in a pestle and mortar, or pulse in a food processor. Add pine nuts and pound again. Put into a bowl and add half of Parmesan. Stir in gently and add olive oil. Season to taste, then add some of the remaining cheese and more olive oil. Repeat until desired consistency. If you want you may add a squeeze of fresh lemon to add a little “twang” Try it with or without and see which you prefer.

lets just say I like the WITH LEMON JUICE version but everybody is different!
You can use this pesto with pasta - just stir through, on sandwiches, pizza, as a dip, a marinade...the list goes on!

pics on there way just have to make another batch

My sisters Chickpea & Mint Dip

this is soooooo good and Sooooooo healthy. not too mention very easy to prepare!

ingredients

Tinned Chickpeas (I use organic)
Juice from one lemon (to taste)
handful of mint finely chopped
salt& pepper
2 tsp olive oil

I use a pestle and mortar I just love to bash things...very therapeutic! you can use a food processor.

Place chickpeas in the pestle & mortar and bash until you form a thick paste place paste into bowl add mint, salt & pepper and mix through slowly add Lemon juice to taste. add olive oil mix through. Serve with grilled mountain bread! YUM!

(pictures are coming...by the time I grabbed my camera this dip was gone!)