I searched on "dried basil pesto" online, and the results weren't encouraging. Someone who claimed to be a chef said that the dried basil doesn't allow for the same consistency of sauce--I would guess that it may not be as thick after processing.

Good to know that dried herbs last a while, because I have lots. I keep them in a cupboard, so yes, dark.

And yes, 4 oz of bay leaves is indeed a lot of bay leaves. I hope they keep as well.