Fresh Garden Herb Pesto

Fresh Garden Herb Pesto 

    I love having a garden this summer.  In fact I had an entire section just for herbs.  Typically I use herbs in cooking or sometimes I will add them to my iced tea.  I made this pesto with a few different types of herbs and it came out great.  Traditional pesto is made from solely basil but I like to change up the flavors and experiment.  Spinach or kale makes a great addition, as well as lemon balm.  I think cilantro or parsley would also add great flavor.  Use garlic and lemon, and instead of parmesan cheese I substituted walnuts which makes it creamy.  Try it out on chicken or pasta for an excellent flavor booster. 

Tip: The olive oil and garlic give it flavor, feel free to add a little more if it seems not a smooth enough texture. 

Healthy tip: Lemon balm is an herb that is a natural calming "anxiolytic".  You can use it in a tea or in cooking to help you relax, and even get to sleep easier. 

Ingredients 

• 1 cup fresh basil
• 1 cup spinach
• 1/4 cup lemon balm herbs (or 1/2 squeezed lemon juice)
• onion salt seasoning 1 tsp
• fresh chopped garlic, 2 small cloves
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 Tbsp water
• Ground pepper, red pepper flakes

Recipe:

1. Add all ingredients into the food processor.
   
2. Pulse the food processor to make a chunky mixture.  The mixture should be fairly smooth.
   
3. Add additional water if needed, but too much and it will be too much liquid.  
4. If you desire, you can add parmesan cheese to the pesto to make it even more creamy. Add red pepper flakes and ground pepper on top prior to serving.