Italian Sunday Dinner: Basil Pesto Pasta for Football Watching

Ladies, it’s football season again! My family loves to get together to watch the big games. Today is college football and a big game between our Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide. I could spend my weekends watching football with the family! Today I am sharing an easy pasta recipe made with basil pesto that will keep you out of the kitchen and in front of the television!

Some of you may be wondering why I always share an outfit on my Italian Sunday dinners posts. I haven’t mastered the art of taking photos when I cook nor do I look presentable when I’m cooking. It’s not until I finish cooking that I shower and get dressed. If you prefer to just read my recipes and not look at outfits, please drop me a note. I want to know what you enjoy reading about here on Hello I’m 50ish.

What I’m wearing to watch football

I love wearing black and white outfits almost every season! The jeans, black crocheted sweater, and jewelry are from Chico’s. Since I’m wearing a black and white outfit, these black croc leather slip-ons from Naot footwear are a wonderful addition to my shoe collection! The Titan Wedge Slip-On is so stylish and comfortable! Plus they are water repellent! They also come in Gold Cobra Print and Gray Cobra Print. Since they are made in Israel they only come in whole sizes so you will need to size up!

Italian Sunday Dinner Menu

Start with a charcuterie board as an appetizer

We always make a charcuterie board for football watching with the family.  This simple appetizer is made with cheeses and meats. We serve it with wine but any beverage will do.

Basil Pesto Pasta Recipe

I love gardening and planting herbs among my flowers by the pool. The pool is the only place where we get full sun. I have tried to grow tomatoes for a few years but I was only feeding the squirrels. Basil loves growing in my garden so I have 5 pots of basil. Because I have so much basil, I freeze it in baggies or freeze it as pesto! I use frozen basil in all my Italian sauces and never use dried basil. It’s so easy and delicious!

Basil Pesto

Ingredients

• 3 cups fresh basil leaves (no stems)
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts  ( I use pine nuts)
• 3 large cloves of garlic
• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Combine basil leaves, pine nuts or walnuts, and garlic in a food processor and process until very finely minced.
2. With the machine running slowly dribble in the oil and process until the mixture is smooth.
3. Add the cheese and process very briefly, just long enough to combine. Store in refrigerator or freezer.

Serve with your favorite pasta and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts (optional) and parmigiana cheese!

Serve with a Caesar Salad

Simple and delicious pasta dinner! Perfect for football watching!

Thank you to Naot Footwear for partnering with me on this post. All opinions are my own.

Mangia!

Thanks for stopping by today!

This post contains affiliate links that may earn Hello I’m 50ish income.