My boyfriend is allergic to nuts, so I had to figure out how to make pesto without the pine nuts. This one is so good that you won't even miss them. :)

It'll take about five minutes to make. It also makes enough pesto for two 16 oz packages of pasta, so it's cheap too!

Step 1: Ingredients:

1/3 cup parmesan (my container had a weight of 2.5 oz)
1 bunch basil
1/2 cup olive oil (start with 1/4 cup and work your way up)
3 cloves garlic
1-2 tsp lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Step 2: Prep.

Pull all the leaves off your basil stems and roughly chop your garlic.

Chopping the garlic is not entirely necessary, but I like to give it a head start so there's no large pieces left.

Step 3: Process!

Put the basil, cheese, and garlic in your food processor. Set the speed to low and drizzle in your olive oil. Start with 1/4 cup, check the consistency, and add more if you like.

I normally add the full 1/2 cup, because I like my pesto to be more runny. :)

Step 4: Add Salt, Pepper, Lemon

Scrape down the sides and add a generous pinch of salt, some pepper, and a bit of lemon juice. Pulse this together and taste. Keep adding and pulsing until you like the way it tastes. :)

And now you're done. Easy, right?

Step 5: Eat Some, Freeze the Rest!

This recipe makes about a cup, and 1/2 cup is enough to cover a big pot of pasta - so you'll have a good amount left over. It freezes very well - you can either freeze it in one lump, or freeze it in an ice cube tray.