Basil pesto, the iconic green sauce we slather on everything from pasta to paninis is both ancient and modern. A Latin poem from the year 25CE describes pounding together herbs, cheese, oil and vinegar - making pesto the oldest sauce in Europe. Long adored in Italy, pesto made it's way into North America in the 70's and evolved from a motor-and-pestle affair to a shelf-stable condiment. Pesto literally translates into the word "pounded" and is made from fresh basil, nuts, olive oil, garlic and cheese.