Two of my favorite, end-of-summer recipes....

If you have any tomatoes, or any of these fresh herbs, both of these recipes are winners. Pistachio Mixed Herb Pesto Ingredients 1/2 to 1 clove garlic, peeled 2 cups packed flat-leaf parsley 2 tablespoons fresh lemon thyme leaves 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon leaves 1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves 1/2 cup grated Parmesan 3/4 cup roasted pistachios Salt and pepper 2/3 cup olive oil Directions Into a blender with the motor running, add the garlic and pulse until finely chopped. Add all of the herbs, cheese, pistachios, salt, and pepper to the blender, and blend until finely chopped. With the blender running, add the olive oil in a steady stream until the mixture becomes creamy and emulsified. Serve over pasta or use as topping for bruschetta. Tomato Pesto Chef Note: This is a great sauce for pasta salad because it's delicious at room temperature. You could also slather it on bruschetta, grilled fish or chicken. Or make a brunch dish by topping a thick slice of toast with proscuitto, a poached egg and a little of this summer pesto. In summer, when you can get your hands on vine-ripe tomatoes, you don't even need to peel them. To intensify the flavor, you can add a few oven-dried tomatoes. The pesto keeps several days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Ingredients 4 cups peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped tomatoes 5 cloves minced garlic 30 large fresh basil leaves 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar Sea salt, preferably gray salt, and freshly ground black pepper 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan Directions Combine the tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper, to taste, in a blender and puree until smooth. Add the cheese and blend briefly just to mix. Transfer to a bowl and adjust the seasoning.