With only a few ingredients, only a few minutes and getting your creativity on, it's so easy to make mouth-watering dips sure to be winners at any gathering. When an invitation says "bring a plate to share" taking along a couple of dips is just the easiest solution ever.
Store bought dips from the supermarket chiller shelves don't taste anything like the homemades! The food industry produces food generally with so many additives to extend shelf life - the unpronouncables listed on the labels can attest to that. Fresh and more nutritious has to be best, so don't wait and give it a go the next time you have friends over or get a party invite.
Basil is plentiful just about year round but if you can't lay your hands on any, my other recipe replacing the fresh herb with spinach and adding a hint of culinary basil essential oil is a great alternative (make sure it's a culinary essential oil labelled for use in the kitchen),. Your friends will be asking for the recipe so before you ask, here's my favourite pesto recipe I make using our fresh basil when in plenteous supply in the garden during the summer months.
Basil Pesto
I garlic clove
40 gms basil leaves
a small handful of fresh parsley
160 gms unsalted cashews (or pine nuts, almond nuts)
80 gms olive oil
2 tablepoons white vinegar
4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Method: Place all ingredients into the blender. Pulse for 5 - 10 seconds. Add a garnish. Voila !
* note all essential oils are not the same - let me help if you're not sure about this.
I help heart-centred driven people like you think more about growing food and the idea that the gardens which surround us can be a place not only to grow food, beautiful blooms to feast our eyes on and a place to unwind from the sometimes crazy world which surrounds us. If we grow a little in the garden, we learn a lot and grow in ourselves ! If all this growing sounds like you, well hello ! How about signing up for my blog today?
