BASIL- SAGE PESTO

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cup basil leaves, washed and thoroughly dried
1/2 cup sage leaves, washed and thoroughly dried
5 large garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
1/2 – 3/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 – 1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan or other hard cheese

Directions:

Place basil, sage, garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice and pine nuts into the bowl of a small food processor.  Starting with 1/4 cup, drizzle olive oil through the feed tube, with the motor running, until the pesto becomes a uniform paste.  Slowly add more oil if the greens do not seem to chop up enough or if the texture is too chunky for your liking. 

Stop the processor and taste; adjust salt, pepper and/or lemon juice to taste.  Process for another 30-60 seconds to blend. 

Mix in grated parmesean with a spatula and serve with crostini, fresh crusty bread, dolloped onto soup or potatoes, or on pizza.

Yields about 1 cup pesto.