Basil Walnut Pesto

Ingredients

• 2 cups gently packed fresh basil leaves
• 2 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 1/3 cup Walnuts (2.5# bag ONLY $9.50)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, best quality such as Lucini or Colavita

Instructions:

1. Place the walnuts and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process until coarsely chopped, about 10 seconds.
2. Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper and process until mixture resembles a paste, about 1 minute.
3. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly blended.
4. Add the Parmesan and process a minute more.
5. Use pesto immediately over your favorite Pasta or store in a tightly sealed jar or air-tight plastic container, covered with a thin layer of olive oil (this seals out the air and prevents the pesto from oxidizing, which would turn it an ugly brown color). It will keep in the refrigerator for about a week.