I picked a handsome bowl of basil tonight and made my poppet’s favourite pasta—Pesto. My Auntie Caterina, who lives near Genova taught me how to make it when I visited in 1999. And I want to stress one thing: there is NO cream in pesto. So when I hear people say that they love Pesto because of the cream I feel very sad. Pesto is a blend of basil, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil and Parmigiano cheese (although I prefer Pecorino). Salt and pepper are optional. The irony of the visit to Italy is that by the time we got back home my partner was diagnosed with Coeliac disease and we had to start eating gluten free pasta. This was a disaster 10 years ago as the gluten free pasta was hideous but today you can hardly tell the difference.
My Tiny Italian Garden 
I can get a great deal of satisfaction just looking at your photo of Basil. I have to admit that my experience of Pesto is from a Jar! I am also living vicariously through your gardening – after my transplant I was told not to garden – not sure what is in soil but apparently to an immune suppressed person ther is some possible risk of infection. I hope you are also growing tomatoes?? When I see Basil, I also taste tomatoes. Your gardening impaired friend, Mandy
Lovely read. My son Alex is now a chef at Apres, a French restaurant in the Cross, so I’m learning more about cooking than ever. Alex and I have a mutual love of basil, coriander, cumin and lime. After all the battles of the teenage years, it’s satisfying to realise you can come out the other side and share a love of cooking with your son. A bonus, never imagined.
Would love to hear your aunt’s recipe.
http://michaelbeyer.wordpress.com/2010/07/11/michaels-pesto/
Hi Michael, I will definitely post the recipe. Thanks for asking. Just give me a day or two as I have just got back from an overseas trip.