Summer's End Fresh Basil Pesto

A freshly made jar of pesto hardly compares to anything you can buy in the grocery stores.  If you grow sweet basil or know where to buy it, now is the time to start using the bountiful harvest.  A few other fresh ingredients and you will have a versatile pasta sauce, sandwich spread or as an appetizer on crispy crostinis. 

Ingredients:

-2 handfuls (about 2 cups packed) fresh basil leaves

-2-3 cloves garlic (depending on how much you like/love raw garlic)

-1/4 cup whole pine nuts

-3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

-juice from 1 lemon

-1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

-1 tsp sea salt

-1/4 tsp pepper

French Herb Cheese and Radish Crostinis

I was so excited to pick my first bunch of radishes from the yard today.  I threw these seeds in the ground in the early spring and a few weeks later, I had a wonderful colorful variety: red, purple, and white...oh my! They're called the "Easter Egg Blend" because they look like little Easter eggs.  I wanted to use them in a recipes that showed off their colors and focused on the fresh root vegetables.  This is when I remembered an old-time favorite: French Herb Cheese.  I made a batch and smeared some on toasted french bread slices and topped with radishes.  It's a flavorful but simple appetizer or snack to bring to a party this spring!

Ingredients:

-1 bunch radishes

-1 french baguette

-2 blocks cream cheese, softened

-1 stick butter, softened

-1 bunch Italian parsley

-1 large handful of any herbs (pick your favorite...rosemary, chives, tarragon, thyme, oregano)

-2 dashes hot sauce

-1 tsp garlic powder

-salt and pepper to taste

Garden Bon Bon Giveaway

"This candy is for planting, not for eating!"  These amazing truffle-like balls are actually seed balls that are hand-made using a centuries-old technique of rolling seeds with rich organic compost and clay.  Just plop them in a pot or sunny part of your yard, water and watch them grow!  Moulton is graciously giving away TWO BOXES of Garden Bon Bons to Reckless Abandon Readers.  You could win one of these two kitchen-friendly varieties:


1. Italian Herbs- Basil, Parsley, Chives and Thyme

2. Edible Flowers - Violas, Calendulas, Anise Hyssop and Nasturtium 

There will be two winners announced right here on Reckless Abandon on Wednesday, April 4th so enter to win....or enter multiple times by doing one or more of the following.  Don't forget to COMMENT ON THIS POST EACH TIME YOU ENTER -

1. Pin a picture of The Garden Bon Bons to pinterest (click on the pin-it button at the bottom of this post)

2. Tweet about this giveaway mentioning @GardenBonBon AND @RachelLeeNob

3. Pin a Reckless Abandon recipe you want to try - (pin from an older post or re-pin from this board)

4. Sign-up for recipes via e-mail on the right side of the blog (already signed-up? still enter to win by commenting below!)

Click "read-more" below to learn more about Moulton, The Bon Bons, and how to plant them...I promise you don't have to be a pro and you don't even need a yard! They would make a great gift for your mom (mother's day is coming up) or a friend!