I put a few handfuls of fresh basil into the blender. Its grown in my garden and some leaves had a few spots, but it still smells amazing!
I don't have money for things like pine nuts. They are so expensive! So I use almonds. I can usually find a bag of almond slivers in the baking aisle for about a dollar. I lucked out and found this outdated bag on sale for 50 cents! You just need about a cup of almonds.
Next throw in some garlic. You could use just a clove or two, but there is no one here to kiss but my stuffed piggy so I'm gonna put in 6 or 7.
You could get some high end parmasean cheese, but honestly, I think the cheapest stuff (in the green shaker jar) works the best. Get the store brand, trust me! You need about a cup of this too.
So then you add olive oil. I would slurge here first if I could. But I can't, so I got my olive oil at the dollar store. It will work just fine. You need about 6 ounces. Maybe more. And then blend! Using a food processor is so much easier but a blender will work.
It will store in the fridge for a week or two or in the freezer for months.
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I love making homemade pesto! I hadn't thought of using almonds instead of pine nuts. I just made it without the nuts altogether since the pine nuts are so expensive. Next time I will try using the almonds like you suggested! I also leave out the Parmesan cheese and add it when I use the pesto. I think homemade pesto is way better then the kind you can buy at the store and so much more cost efficient!!!
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