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Just to say thank you to everybody and let you know that the italian marinade turned out delish! In the end, I used a little garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, lemon juice, oil and tomato puree - very tasty! Thanks again.

martino, pine nuts are so expensive. Luckily I have a good crop of basilico this year

Frankly, I agree with jaybee pesto in a jar is yuk! I make my own and it is so easy I never understand why people want to waste there money.

I know Georgie, I make my own chicken stock and you think life is too short for that sort of thing!!!

But then we are all different eh?

jaybee - there are quite a few recipes for pesto on this site and it is worth making your own. I know Helen's pesto is fab but supermarket pesto is really not good. Last week's newsletter from UKTVFood had four recipes that included home made pesto.

Oh thank you people for all your lovely suggestions. I will copy them all to my pc and have a play! I thought I was along the right lines with olive oil, lemon juice/wine vinegars etc, but wanted your take on this - wasn't sure if italians did such a thing as to marinade meat, skewer it and then barbeque! Relishmama, I once bought some pesto when it first hit the supermarket shelves - never again! - it tasted as though someone had minced some grass and added oil! - yuck! it put me right off, but would like to try making my own, to my own taste. Sounds like a good idea if I can make it taste nice! - Thanks again peeps! - will let you know what I did and what the verdict was!

The thing is that there are so many ways to do this.

The rule of thumb is to get oil and vinegar in a 3 to 1 or 2 to 1 ratio. Adding lemon juice means removing same amount of vinegar. Then you need some seasoning, for Italy black pepper, oregano rosemary (sage with pork) and basil can be used all or a little. Try red wine or white wine vinegar, for a change you could use balsamic vinegar.

Mix together, 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add a teaspoon of black pepper and 3 tablespoons of oregano.

or Mix together 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, teaspoon of pepper and one tablespoon of basil parsley and oregano

or Mix together 2 tablespoons of lemon juice 6 tablespons of extra virgin olive oil one whole but crushed garlic 1 teaspoon of pepper and one or more italian herbs (oregano and sage or good here as is rosemary)

Change the lemon to white wine vinegar if you prefer in part or whole.

Have fun in the sun

Hi, a good way to get authentic Italian flavour is to use a small amount of "good" pesto. then add more olive oil to loosen. you can choose which pesto you prefer. personally I love my red pepper one. its delish.

I do a marinade of olive oil, oregano, garlic, lemon juice and some sun dried tomatoe puree - works for us!