0 Practical Pesto!

As promised...


Super SIMPLE, delicious, healthy, and practical!

Ever had your pesto sauce go bad?  Reminds me of avocados: too expensive to let go to waste!  See how to ALWAYS EAT PERFECT AVOCADOS (#1 in Quick Kitchen Tips)!

Cranberry Pesto Pasta Salad

Remember this Pesto RATIO!

1/4 c pine nuts (or walnuts ... similar taste, less expensive, and more nutritious!) NUT BENEFITS
2 c fresh basil

Blend these in a food processor until smooth.
Freeze in 1/2c or so portions.

Fill silicone cupcake holders OR scoop mixture on a cookie tray to freeze, and then fill a freezer bag with the portions.  SO convenient and lasts forever!

Freezing just these two ingredients a) maintains perfect taste and b) minimizes freezer space used!

Whenever you WANT, pull out a 1/2 c portion.

Use spoon (no food processor necessary) to combine with:

1 1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
3/4 c nutritional yeast (click for benefits!)
1/2 c Parmesan

Add salt and pepper to taste (optional).

Try it out with Cranberry Pesto Pasta Salad!

And COMING SOON: Pesto Pizza!

COMMENTS: how do you like to eat your pesto?

Detail: Practical Pesto!

0 Kohlrabi Cabbage Salad -- Awesome!

This is a simple,
refreshing,
cancer-preventing,
crunchy,
tart,
sweet,
and salty salad that you will love!



Kohlrabi Cabbage Salad

1/3 of a head of cabbage
1 kohlrabi
1 large apple
1 lemon OR lemon juice
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Thinly slice everything up, mix, and enjoy!

*Before chopping kohlrabi, discard stems and cut off outer layer -- I hadn't even heard of this veggie before I joined Geauga Family Farms CSA!)

*If including a whole lemon, very yum!, cut off outermost yellow skin, keeping plenty of the white portion; it has a mild, taste and adds fiber!

*Play with the quantities of juice, oil, salt, and pepper to get the taste you love!  It's always a good idea to start with less than you think you'll need -- harder to take away than to add!

*Kohlrabi and cabbage are cruciferous veggies, in the same group as broccoli and cauliflower, which all have amazing properties which allow humans to prevent cancer, and even potentially reverse it!  Click on any of the links for more information and other recipes for cruciferous veggies!

I always love when I don't have to cook something at the stove or in the oven, and ESPECIALLY in this sweltering summer of 2012!  Hope you enjoy too!  How are you staying COOL?!

Detail: Kohlrabi Cabbage Salad -- Awesome!

0 Lemony Kale Pasta

KALE is a super-GREEN!  Benefits of kale: high in Vitamins K, A, C (just a cup gives you more than your daily requirement of each!), and calcium and iron!  Plus, a variety of phytochemicals that help prevent cancer and aging, especially of the eyes!

Lemony Kale Pasta

1 package pasta ... I used Barilla Plus ... Here is a post on some pasta alternatives!
1 large onion, chopped ...I've used white and red onions, both are yummy!
2 Tbsp garlic, minced
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil ... I learned today that the following varieties are especially healthy: Pictual, Moriolo, and Koroneiki ...something to look for when you buy your next bottle.  Also, it's helpful if it's kept in a cool, dark place in a dark bottle.
1 tsp Organic Garlic Pepper Seasoning (from Costco), or 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper
1 pound kale ... I used more than half of Costco's bag of baby kales :)
1/4 c flaxseed, ground
1/4 c nutritional yeast
1/4 c wheat bran, course grain
1/4 c wheat germ
1/2 lemon, juice squeezed on top of pasta dish!

Prepare pasta as directed.  Saute onion and garlic in oil and spice for 5-7 min on medium high heat.  Then add kale and cook for another 5 min, until greens become bright!  Combine remaining dry ingredients.  Lastly, mix everything together, squeeze lemon juice on top, and enjoy!

COMMENTS: Do you eat Kale?  Kale chips?  Kale soup?

Detail: Lemony Kale Pasta

0 You're Gonna Wanna THIS Penne Italiana!

This MEATLESS meal couldn't be EASIER, or more TASTY!  I think I had thirds!

To read more about the benefits of meatless meals CLICK HERE :)

FOOD Attitude for Picky Eaters!

Even though my 3YO daughter was fussing irrationally that she did want this dish, she LOVED it!  She even went on and on, explaining how very much she was LOVING EVERY part of the dish -- even the green leaf parts!  HOW?

When she was all upset while I was making dinner, I talked to her about considering the fact that the meal MIGHT ACTUALLY be yummy.  I asked her if she usually, or even sometimes, likes foods that I cook.  She said yes.  That was about it, but really just talking about another PERSPECTIVE changed her ATTITUDE for when she actually tried the meal a little later.  I had also said she could just try it and see.  Letting her know that if she doesn't like it, she won't have to eat it all up, just some, made her feel independent, in control.  Turns out she had SECONDS!

Click HERE for 8 Tricks and Tips for PICKY EATERS!

Penne Italiana (quick pasta dish, healthy pasta recipe!)

1 box Barilla Plus pasta, prepared as directed OR click HERE for yummy PASTA ALTERNATIVES
1/4 to 1/3 c extra virgin olive oil
3-4 Tbsp garlic, minced
5-6 vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped in wedges
~1 Tbsp basil (or plenty of fresh -- yum!)
3-4 Tbsp Parmesan cheese (try adding some nutritional yeast!)
1-1/2 to 2 lb fresh baby spinach

Saute garlic, tomatoes, and basil in oil, for 5-10 min, until tomatoes appear loose.  Then stir in cheese, simmer for another 5-10 min.  Add spinach and cover for 5-10 min.  Stir in pasta, and enjoy!

COMMENTS: How did you spend this beautiful day?  Did you get outside and enjoy some fresh air?

Detail: You're Gonna Wanna THIS Penne Italiana!