Nothing beats fresh pesto sauce and pasta for an easy, yet satisfying meal. But, unless you have an indoor herb garden, in the cooler fall and winter months, the 2 cups of fresh basil leaves you need to make enough traditional pesto for a whole family can be hard to come by.

Sure, you can usually find fresh basil leaves in many upscale supermarkets. But 2 cups of it would make a casual family meal rather expensive.

To enjoy fresh pesto sauce all winter long, without breaking your budget, try spinach pesto. A large bag of fresh spinach leaves is only a couple of dollars and will make several batches of Spinach Pesto.

The beauty of pesto is you don't have to cook it. Just pop a few ingredients into your blender or food processor and - Presto! It's pesto!

Try this recipe:

SPINACH PESTO

2 c. packed fresh spinach leaves

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 c. olive oil (or less)

c. pine nuts (lightly toasted - if desired - they don't have to be toasted)

1/3 to 1/2 c. freshly grated parmesan

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Salt

Freshly ground pepper

Combine the spinach, garlic, pine nuts, and enough olive oil in a blender or food processor to make a smooth paste.

Add the cheese and balsamic vinegar. Stir to blend. Add salt and pepper to taste.

When ready to serve with pasta, save a little of the water used to boil the pasta and mix it with the pesto sauce to thin it a little so it will be easier to mix throughout the pasta.

Serve your spinach pesto and pasta with a green salad, crusty bread, and a glass of your favorite wine for a casual, yet elegant, satisfying meal.

Note: This pesto can be stored in the refrigerator for a week or so in a tightly covered container.

Suzanne Lieurance

Suzanne Lieurance is a children's author, freelance writer, and owner of the Three Angels Gourmet Co. She also teaches children's writing for the Institute of Children's Literature based in West Redding, Connecticut. Lieurance is the author of 12 published books for children and has written articles for a variety of magazines, newsletters, and ezines like Family-Fun, Kansas City Weddings, Instructor Magazine, New Moon for Girls, Children's Writer, and many others. As the owner of the Three Angels Gourmet Co., Lieurance offers daily food tips at the Three Angels blog and her "heavenly gourmet mixes" are available at gourmet food stores and gift shops across the country and online at Three Angels Gourmet. Find out more about her books and her other writing at her website. Email her about writing assignments, conference presentations, or author visits at suzannelieurance@hotmail.com