recipe: basil pesto (without nuts)

trying to use up the mass amount of basil in our garden... i didn't have pine nuts (and don't really care if i do or do not have them personally) but decided to whip up some pesto anyway. perfect little condiment for mini grilled chicken caprese sliders. i snagged the recipe from instructables.com, followed verbatim.

ingredients list:
- 1/3 cup parmesan
- 1 bunch basil
- 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 to 2 tsp lemon juice
- salt & fresh black pepper to taste

to make: add to blender. blend : ) allow to sit for at least an hour before serving.

recipe: lemon basil tinis

we all know the phrase... when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. after that, you add vodka. cuz you a crazy mother effer. and then some basil, cuz you fancy. and cuz ur garden has a lot of it.

i don't really have any wine left and was going to be cooking/baking this afternoon, so i needed a good bev for the day. vodka cocktails it is.

ingredient list: (for one drink)
8 oz of homemade lemonade*
1 shot+ of vodka
5 fresh basil leaves

to make:
pour vodka; muddle basil (mash with a muddler or wooden spoon or smooth edge, just enough to release the basil yumness but not enough to fully break up the leaves... that will release chlorophyll which will make your drink taste like S). finish with lemonade.

*to make lemonade:
my go-to lemonade recipe is Best Lemonade Ever from allrecipes, followed verbatim with a touch less sugar.

mmm love this smell. the first lemon is fun to squeeze, makes me feel like Giada. after the 3rd, it just sucks. i need a juicer. not sure what i'm saving the zest for, but i'm sure some unsuspecting chicken will find out later this week.

rating: these are the tits. eight stars ********.