School Friendly Pesto (no nuts!)

We love PESTO!

The problem with adding it to the pasta for dinner is that you can't put the left overs in the lunchboxes!!!!

Easy and quick to make! 

Simple clean ingredients, easy to make, stores great in mason jars!

Lily's (10 year old) lunch box

Bella's (5 year old) lunch box

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of fresh Spinach

• 2 cups fresh Basil

• 1/2 cup of grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese

• 1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• 1 Garlic Clove*

• 1 Tablespoon Lemon

• 1 Teaspoon Lemon Zest

• 1/2 Teaspoon salt

• 1/2 Teaspoon white crushed pepper**

* feel free to add as much garlic as your family likes, I keep it light because the 5 year old complains that it makes it "spicy".  Also, I cut the garlic clove in half lengthwise and remove the middle green sprout, it helps remove bitterness from the garlic taste.

** we use white peppercorn in our home, we find it to be a milder taste and not as sharp.

Direction:

1. Place all the ingredients together in a blender and blend until they are the consistency you like.
2. Transfer to a mason jars or any tight jars that you can store in the fridge, we love glass jars. Great for freezing as well!  (If using a glass jar, only fill it up to 2/3 so that the pesto has space to expand as it freezes).
3. Store in fridge and use as needed.

Great for pasta, bruschetta's, sandwiches, crackers, veggies.... it's delish!!

Enjoy!