Pesto Presto - Tip of the Day

Have leftover nuts, cheese, herbs and garlic around the house? Make a quick pesto.
This delicacy, originally from the port city of Genoa, fuses classic flavors like Parmesan, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic and basil to form a versatile and flavorful addition to pasta, sandwiches, soup and dozens of other dishes.

If you don't have the traditional staples on hand, take heart; substitutions are welcome. Swap in Pecorino for Parmesan; arugula for basil; and walnuts for pine nuts. You can even leave out the garlic if you please.

Pesto also keeps well when frozen. Distribute among ice cube trays, freeze, then pop into Ziploc bags for perfect portion-controlled servings.