The first time I tasted pesto was in a small restaurant in San Francisco called Restaurante Parma. I was in my late teens-early twenties and on a vacation with my family. Always being the adventurous eater, I ordered the pesto pasta even though I didn't really know what it was. I'd never tasted anything like it before; there was so much flavor in such a simple dish.  I've been smitten with pesto ever since.

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Tags: basil, garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese, parsley, pecorino cheese, pesto, pine nuts

In Oregon, blackberry brambles grow like weeds. They're everywhere…sprouting up in fields, bare lots, backyards, and alongside rural or not-so-rural roads. Except for the impending scratches and pricks from the thorny vines, I love picking blackberries! I love the sweet smell emanating from the warm berry bushes on a hot summer's day, and I love how a perfectly ripe berry burst with juice when eaten. Ahhh, it's blackberry heaven!

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Tags: blackberry syrup