Basil Pesto with Potatoes, Green Beans and Pasta

I have so much basil growing right now it's fantastic and a problem at the same time.  I always grow too much and this year I really overdid it.  In addition to planting some out on the patio in pots, I started some from seed in big trays inside.  I did three plantings at different dates. My plan was to actually remove the plants from the trays when they got 6 to 8 leaves - just at the perfect time to harvest.  This is what they do in Liguria, where pesto is King. They only use the youngest, most tender leaves. But I couldn't bring myself to do it. I found myself cutting off the leaves and letting more grow! What a wimp.   Now I have a ton more basil than I need.  So I'm really making pesto a lot.  

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How to Make Homemade Limoncello

The minute we got back from the Amalfi Coast, Brian wanted to make homemade limoncello.  When you go out to dinner in any of the towns in that area, they serve you little shots of icy cold limoncello after dinner - you know Italians and their wonderful digestifs obsession.  You get used to it pretty easily.  It's a nice custom. So we started researching recipes when we got back.

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Bagna Cauda

I'm guest posting this week for my friend Michele over at Cooking With Michele while she is in Italy on one of her amazing culinary tours.  Michele is a food blogger extraordinaire in Colorado who writes, caters, teaches cooking classes, leads culinary tours and is a sommelier. She really does it all.  Jump on over to her blog and check out her site - she has all sorts of great information about Italy, travel tips and travel journals as well as great recipes and advice about cooking. I'm posting about Bagna Cauda for her, a really classic Italian appetizer that's easy to make.  

One of these days I'm going to join her on one of her amazing Italy trips.  Maybe you will, too!