Pesto Change-o!

I'm going camping this weekend! Hooray! 

Don't get too excited, it's more like glamping, we have a cabin....with a ceiling fan... 

Growing up my Grandfather and Father took my brother, sister and I camping every summer. We LOVED it. My Grandfather would share stories about how he wrestled a bear, my brother would believe him, I would swing from a rope that was attached to this gigantic tree that swung over a river. Camping is simplicity at its finest. If you ask my Dad to explain camping he says, "You wake up, make breakfast, clean up and by the time you're done with that you make lunch, you clean up, play cards, and then you have to prep and make dinner before the sun goes down. Next you put everything in the car so the bears don't find us." Camping Coffee is also a family favorite, it takes about 2 hours to make, but it's the best coffee you'll ever have. It's pretty much the only reason my husband tolerates camping.  

My basil this week was just stunning and I came home tonight from that AWESOME cooking demo, inspired to make a lil somthin for camping.

Basil Pesto Cream Cheese Dip

The pesto is a simple recipe from Food Network.

Ingredients

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves

2 cloves garlic

1/4 cup pine nuts

2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese

Directions

Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.

If freezing, transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and stir in cheese

When all is said and done, add 1 8oz. package of Cream Cheese and add some whole pine nuts, and ta-da...
You have a Pesto Cream Cheese Dip!
It's perfect for Pita Chips, Pizza Dough, Peppers, Carrots, any dippers!