Basil Pesto and Lemon Tilapia on Homemade Pasta

       We have three large basil plants in the herb garden and its getting to the time where they might frost so what better way to use a bunch of fresh basil than basil pesto?  And of course, what do you put pesto on aside from pasta, or better yet, made from scratch pasta!  This is a perfect light dinner, that can be a very simple week night dinner if you use dry pasta instead of making your own:

Basil Pesto and Lemon Tilapia on Homemade Pasta

  Ingredients:

   Pasta

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 3 eggs
• water

   Pesto

• 4-5 cups fresh basil leaves, rinsed
• salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons lemon olive oil (or 1 tablespoon lemon juice and one tablespoon olive oil)
• 1-1 1/2 cups olive oil
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

   Tilapia 

•  2 tilapia fillets
• salt and pepper
• lemon pepper
• butter
• one lemon
• basil pesto (recipe below)

  Instructions:

1. Pour flour onto a wooden board and make a well in the middle:
   
2. Crack eggs into the center of flour and whisk, eventually fold until dough forms, adding water until all the flour sticks but none of the dough leaves marks on your hands:
   
3. Run through you pasta machine to whatever shape you want, and set aside to dry a little:
   
4. For the pesto, place all the basil, nuts, lemon oil, and cheese in food processor.  Pulse five or six times to shred and combine everything
5. Drizzle in olive oil by a few tablespoons at a time and pulse between each.  Add salt and pepper to taste:
   
6. Meanwhile, pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Butter a baking sheet and place tilapia on it. Sprinkle with salt, lemon pepper, pepper, and lemon juice.  Place a pat of butter on each and place in oven:
   
7. After about 5 minutes, brush tilapia with pesto and bake for another 20-25 minutes, or until the fish is opaque.  Top pasta with pesto and fish and enjoy!