Homemade pesto is something I’ve been making a few years in a row now, and it’s an excellent way to use up the rest of the fresh basil in your garden before a hard frost.  Freeze what you don’t use in ice cube trays to enjoy in the middle of the winter.

How to Use Your Homemade Pesto:

• As a pasta sauce
• Add a little homemade pesto to mayo for a sandwich spread
• Top salmon or chicken with pesto before grilling
• Add to mashed potatoes
• As a baked potato topper
• On homemade pizza as a sauce
• In artisan breads
• Make pesto butter as an appetizer spread

Frugal Tips:  Even though fresh Parmesan is somewhat expensive, it’s worth it.  A little bit goes a long way.  You may also experience sticker shock if you’re purchasing pine nuts for the first time.  If you have walnuts at home, they are a good substitute.  Some even prefer the taste of walnut pesto to pine nut pesto.

Thanks to the Mommysavers Forum members for the inspiration behind this basil pesto recipe

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