Spinach Basil Walnut Pesto

I have a plethora of spinach this year. I'm not sure if it's just that the weather hasn't allowed for much else to actually grow, but I have a freezer full of it and fresh ready-for-salad spinach in the fridge. I even have more growing outside in my container. I am so glad you can freeze spinach for pasta dishes. It's overwhelming seeing the spinach keep creeping into my house.


Even with the freezer as a go-to for the spinach, I needed somewhere else for all the spinach to go. I was perusing some blogs that I follow (I'm trying to find more of you food bloggers out there!) and over at Hye Thyme Cafe there was a recipe for Kale-Mint-Almond pesto and it inspired me. I have a ton of basil from my herb garden and a plethora of spinach - pesto was the perfect solution.


Spinach Basil Walnut Pesto

You Will Need:

• Food Processor
• Rubber Spatula
• Tupperware Container

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups Fresh Spinach
• 1/2 Cup Fresh Basil
• 1 Cup Walnuts
• 1 Cup Paremesan
• 2 Cloves Garlic
• 1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Peppercorns
• 1 Tablespoon Vinegar (ok, here's the deal - usually you put in a teaspoon of lemon juice in pesto. Well, I didn't have any and I thought vinegar would be better anyway. I used the champagne vinegar, but I'm pretty sure any kind would be good. I bet balsamic would be great if you wanted to go that way with it, even)

Directions:

1. Wash spinach and basil leaves
2. Put all ingredients in food processor and turn it on until creamy
3. Scrape sides down once or twice while it mixes
4. Add extra evoo and vinegar for consistency
5. Keep it the fridge and spread it on everything in sight :)

I've been putting it on everything. Chicken breasts as a marinade. Leftover bread. Dip for carrots. My favorite way of using the pesto, and this is thanks to the kids - who also love it, was spreading it on top of cream cheese on a plain bagel with pepperoni slices on top. Pizza Bagels on a whole new level. And, hey, the kids eat it even though it's green. I wish I had a picture, but we ate it all before I had the chance!