It’s basil time in the garden! Time to make pesto and any other dishes that call for this delicious herb. At the community garden where I volunteer, donating thousands of pounds of food each year to non-profits, we have 3.5 rows 160 feet long of basil. Yes, that’s correct. I am not sure what planet I was on when I agreed to take the extra seedlings that had been grown in a greenhouse this spring and plant them in our garden. There is only so much basil you can give away or sell as a fundraiser! Our volunteers are able to take home produce for their work in the garden, but even with all of our volunteers, it’s tough to make a dint in the huge amount we have. So, come volunteer and take some home to make this recipe!
Last week I took home a grocery bag full to make into pesto. I have done the same the past couple of summers to have on hand for our nephews who lived with us to play hockey. Both young men loved to have pesto sauce stirred into their pasta for their pregame meal on home game days. I didn’t like buying the big jars at Costco because they contain a lot of parmesan cheese and oil… and let’s face it, they don’t taste anywhere near as good.
Of course, the whole cooking of chicken breasts to go with their pasta drove me bonkers… Who comes up with this game-day meal anyway…? Oh, the absurd, high protein, high animal product diet that is pushed on so many athletes…ugh.
On that topic, there is some exciting news out! A new documentary called “The Game Changers” is set to be released for screenings worldwide September 16th! It uses science and real accounts of diet changes to highlight the fact that a plant-based diet is the healthiest and best diet for everyone. This documentary follows the lives of extreme athletes who are using a plant-based diet as the ultimate advantage over their competition. Some of the executive producers of this film include: Novak Djocovic (tennis superstar), Arnold Schwarzenegger, (we all know who he is… not protein deficient!), Lewis Hamilton (Formula One race-car driver) and Jackie Chan (martial artist). One of the most telling scenes in the film is when 3 hockey players have their blood drawn and compared for viscosity shortly after eating three very different meals. Shocking, and undeniably visible results!
September 16th will be an epic day. Millions of people watching throughout the world will realize just how badly we are being duped by the animal industries. All of this animal protein is killing us, not making us stronger or faster. There is a local group called the Okanagan Health Forum who are working on having it screened in both Kelowna and Penticton! Stay tuned.
Here is the trailer to enjoy below, and also the link to find where in your area the documentary will be screened and to buy tickets. Let’s spread the word and get big groups together to view!
I was fortunate to see The Game Changers a year and a half ago, at a plant-based conference in international waters where there were no regulations on it being screened to an audience before its release. This documentary is exactly as it’s name depicts… A GAME CHANGER. Soon I will be that crazy mom/auntie, texting the younger generation in our family, offering a small e-transfer in return for watching the documentary and soaking up some knowledge. To all the industries that so badly want us not to find out this information, get ready! The world’s youth are our future leaders.
We need to stand up for our rights as consumers to be told the truth about what we are eating and how it is adversely affecting our health. When we have that knowledge it is our job to share it. This is what I am hoping to do with this blog. My goal is to spread plant-based information and offer ideas for living a kinder, life in a simple, delicious manner.
So, now, back to this tasty, plant-based basil pesto recipe! This recipe is simple and much lower in fat than any you will find in the grocery stores and most recipes you will find online. I modified it from the usual versions still maintaining the delicious flavour while being much lower in added oils. You could make it added oil free if you prefer, by adding more water and nuts and removing the oil completely.
This pesto is great over pasta, in stir-frys or salad dressings, tossed with cooked vegetables, added to dips, or as a pizza sauce. I hope you give it a try, and if you do, please comment below!
I tripled this recipe… 
www.thevibrantveggie.com This recipe can easily be doubled. 
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes