ONE MORE BITE

Fresh basil pesto is one of the joys of summer. Fragrant, flavorful and green, it's a refreshing change from traditional tomato sauce in pasta dishes. It can liven up a pasta salad, sandwich or omelet, and it's great as a dip for raw vegetables.

The basic pesto recipe consists of basil leaves, garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, pine nuts and olive oil. The name refers to the way the ingredients are blended into a paste, often with a mortar and pestle. Modern chefs like to vary the classic recipe by adding or substituting herbs like mint, parsley or arugula, and nuts like walnuts or almonds.

Here is a recipe for Tortellini Salad with Basil Pesto. You can use your own homemade pesto, or try Cibo Naturals Basil Pesto, which is on special through June 21. Cibo Naturals pesto is made with almonds instead of pine nuts.

Fresh basil is a must for delicious pesto, and you don't need a big garden to grow your own. Even apartment dwellers can cultivate it in pots on a balcony or brightly lit windowsill. Grow a few varieties of basil, and have fun with pesto!