Roasted Tomato Basil Pesto

Let's be honest here, I did not take this picture. I was so excited about eating this delicious pasta dish that I didn't think to take a picture of my own. Oops. So the photo credit for this one definitely goes to Angela.

BUT - original photo or not, you NEED TO KNOW about this recipe. It was so delicious. And healthy! I made it in my new Blendtec blender (which I LOVE, by the way) when I was so excited about it and just looking for ways to use it. I will definitely be making this again. The roasted tomatoes add such a depth of flavor to the pesto sauce - sweet and smoky and just amazing! We loved this and felt all fancy eating it.

Roasted Tomato Basil Pesto


9 large roma tomatoes, sliced in half lengthwise
1/2 cup almonds, toasted
2 garlic cloves
1 cup tightly packed basil + more for garnish
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil + more for drizzling on tomatoes
Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Your desired amount of cooked pasta


Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment. Place sliced tomatoes on the sheet and drizzle with oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for about 1 hour and 10 mins at 400F. Watch closely during the last 15 minutes of roasting.

Reduce oven heat to 325F and toast almonds for 8-10 minutes. Add 1/3 cup into food processor and process until finely chopped. I left mine a bit chunky for texture. Remove and set aside.

With processor turned on, add 2 garlic cloves and let it whirl around until finely chopped. Now add in the basil and process until finely chopped.

Add in the oil, optional nutritional yeast, and 1.5 cups of roasted tomatoes (you will have tomatoes left over). Process until smooth. Pulse in 1/3 cup toasted almonds. Season generously with salt and pepper. I think I used about 1/2 tsp salt or a bit more.

Pour your desired amount of pesto over the cooked pasta and mix well. Chop the remaining roasted tomatoes and stir into pasta. Chop remaining almonds and Chiffonade the basil



Recipe from Oh She Glows.

Tortellini with Snap Peas, Lemon and Dill

This was the most delicious dinner! I was expecting it to be good (Kelsey's recipes always are), but it exceeded my expectations. The flavors were so fresh and well balanced. I can't wait to make it again! 

A couple notes: I substituted half a red onion for the shallot with great results. Also, pancetta is like a fancy, salty bacon. I used pancetta and I am really glad I did, but if you can't find it, I bet thick cut bacon would do in a pinch. But you wouldn't get that perfect salty flavor out of it, so I'd definitely recommend using pancetta if you can! And lastly, when lacking fresh herbs (dill), I use dry at about 1/3 the amount. So, 3 Tbs fresh dill becomes 3 tsp dried dill.


Tortellini with Snap Peas in Lemon Dill Cream Sauce

1 lb. refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 lb. sugar snap peas (4 cups)
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 ounces pancetta, thinly sliced, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces (about 1/2 
cup)
1 shallot, minced
1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 tablespoons fresh dill, snipped & chopped fine, plus more for garnish
1/3 Parmesan cheese, finely shredded

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook tortellini according to package 
directions; adding the sugar snap peas during the last 2 minutes. Drain. 

Meanwhile, in a large saute pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add 
pancetta and cook until crisp, 6-8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer 
pancetta to a small bowl and set aside. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat 
from the pan. Add shallot and cook, stirring occasionally until fragrant and 
golden brown around the edges, about 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, heavy 
cream, lemon zest, and dill. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until 
sauce has thickened and coats the back of a spoon. 

Remove from heat and add tortellini, snap peas, and pancetta and toss 
gently to coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garnish with additional 
dill before serving. 

Makes 4-6 servings

Recipe from Kelsey Nixon.

S'mores Brownies

Summertime in a brownie. Amazing gooey deliciousness, best served warm.

S'mores Brownies
Crust:
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch fine salt


Brownie:
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
4 large cold eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour


Topping:
4 cups large marshmallows, cut in half
Milk chocolate chips
broken graham cracker pieces



Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat oven to 325 degrees F. Line an 8 by-8-inch square baking pan with foil so it hangs over the edges by about 1 inch.

For the crust: Lightly butter the foil with some of the melted butter. Stir the rest of the butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Press the crumb mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the brownie. Put the butter and chocolate in a medium microwave safe bowl. Melt in the microwave on 75 percent power for 2 minutes. Stir, and microwave again until completely melted, about 2 minutes more. Alternatively, put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl on the pan without touching the water. Stir occasionally until melted. Stir the light brown and white sugars, vanilla and salt into the melted chocolate. Add the eggs and beat vigorously to make a thick and glossy batter. Add the flour and stir until just incorporated.

Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the top is crispy and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean, with a few crumbs, about 40 to 45 minutes.

Remove from the oven and carefully position a rack about 6 inches from the broiler and preheat on low. Layer marshmallows across the top, sprinkle with chocolate chips and graham cracker pieces and toast under the broiler until golden, (keep an eye on it, it can go quick), about 2 minutes. Cool on a rack, gently removing the brownies from the pan using the aluminum flaps. Carefully separate any marshmallow from the foil and fold away. Cut into squares.

Recipe adapted from Food Network.

Oven Baked BBQ Ribs

Husband's birthday came around this year and I knew I wanted to make him a delicious, manly dinner. What could be more manly than barbecue ribs? I used to think these would be hard to make, but when I actually started looking into it I discovered that they are stupidly easy. And they turned out amaaaaazzzingly delicious. Win win!!

Make a man in your life very happy. Make ribs.

Oven Baked Ribs


2 whole slabs pork baby back ribs, silver skin removed
8 tablespoons light brown sugar, tightly packed
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika or regular paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1-2 cups BBQ sauce (we love Sweet Baby Ray's)


In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients and mix well. Place each slab of baby back ribs on a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil or a double layer of regular tin foil, shiny side down. Sprinkle each side of the ribs generously with the dry rub. Pat the dry rub into the meat. Wrap the ribs tightly in the foil and refrigerate the ribs for a minimum of 8 hours or overnight and up to 48 hours.

When ready to bake the ribs, preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

Place the ribs (still in the foil packets) on a foil lined baking sheet and bake the ribs in the oven for 2 1/2 hours-3 hours or until tender when picked up with tongs. The meat will come easily off of the bone!

Remove ribs from foil and place on another foil lined baking sheet. Brush with your favorite BBQ sauce and broil until charred and bubbly. Cut the ribs into individual portions (2-3 ribs per person). Serve with additional BBQ sauce, if desired.

Recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Craisin Walnut Quinoa Salad

When I first heard about quinoa, the new "superfood", I wanted to find ways to incorporate it into our diet, but I didn't really know how. I tried some quinoa-stuffed peppers that were just okay, and a salad that was pretty all right. But when I tried this sweet salad, I was in love. This is the best way to eat quinoa. The flavors are so delicious together - the sweetness of the craisin, the nutty toasted walnuts, and the onion all come together to make something magical. And really, really addicting.

I never would have thought I would say this about a quinoa salad. But you guys, I am OBSESSED with this dish. It is so good. A friend served it at a Sunday lunch and I loved it so much, I bought the ingredients the following day and made it that night. After tasting it, I knew I would want more than just one batch, and I wiped out the pot and immediately made another batch (it's so easy and quick that you can do that!). We ate this for lunch all that week, and then I made it AGAIN the following week because I still wasn't tired of it and was craving more!

I love that this is a pretty guilt-free obsession, I know I'm feeding my body whole grains and plant-based protein while also having something that tastes delicious. But I also love how customizable this is. The first time I made it, I used walnuts (which I think is best), but the second time (pictured above) I used toasted almonds, and also added chopped broccoli, and it turned out amazing. You could also add chopped celery or grapes, or really any chopped greens you desire. I mixed this with baby spinach a few times and it was great as well. Do your body and your tastebuds a favor and make this!

Craisin Walnut Quinoa Salad

1 cup quinoa
1/2 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
1 cup water
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 medium red onion, diced
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Dressing:
3 Tbs lemon juice
2 Tbs honey
2 Tbs olive oil
salt and pepper

{Disclaimer: I do not have exact amounts for any of these ingredients except the quinoa and cooking liquid. Everything else, I guesstimated the amounts shown above. I just threw enough in until it looked about right. Use the amounts in my ingredient list as a guide, but if it looks like it needs a little more craisins, nuts, onion, whatever, adjust the amounts to your liking.}

Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat, add dry quinoa and toast for a minute or two, stirring frequently, until quinoa smells nutty. Add water and chicken broth (I use two cups of water and throw in a chicken boullion cube) and bring to a boil. Stir in the craisins. Cover and reduce heat to low, simmer for 15 minutes until quinoa is fluffy and liquid is absorbed.

While quinoa is cooking, spread chopped nuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven at 400 degrees for a few minutes, taking care not to burn.

Toss cooked quinoa with nuts, chopped onion, and any other desired ingredients (chopped broccoli, celery, grapes, etc). Whisk dressing ingredients in a small bowl, adjusting amounts to desired taste. Pour over salad and stir.

This can be served warm, which is delicious, or chilled and served cold. If serving later, it's best to mix in the chopped nuts right before serving. They do keep in the fridge for several days, but they're best mixed in right before serving.

Recipe from Abby Curran.

Double Coconut Samoa Ice Cream

It's Girl Scout cookie time once again, and this year I ordered a couple boxes each of Samoas and Thin Mints (which, by the way, when did we stop calling those Grasshopper cookies? That was a much more fun name). I love the flavors of coconut, caramel and chocolate in the Samoas, as well as the chewy texture from the caramel and coconut. When I heard about a limited-time-only Samoa ice cream made by Edy's, I knew I had to make some myself!

After looking around online and consulting my Ben and Jerry's recipe book, I came up with a recipe I thought would work. I decided to go all the way with the coconut flavor, with a coconut flavored ice cream, toasted coconut mixed in, and the coconut in the cookies. Many recipes suggested using canned coconut cream, which I've never used and didn't have on hand. But I usually have a can of coconut milk in the cupboard and I figured that would work. Luckily I was right!



If I had more prep time, I would have added a fudge or caramel ribbon (or both?) by spreading a layer of fudge between the churned ice cream before freezing. In this case, I just decided to top the ice cream with chocolate and caramel syrup afterward. The result was very coconutty and just fantastic. A great way to enjoy my favorite Girl Scout cookie flavor!

Double Coconut Samoa Ice Cream

2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup canned coconut milk (shake well before opening)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup shredded coconut flakes
7 Girl Scout Samoa cookies

Make sure all ingredients are chilled, taken directly from the fridge before use. In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer on medium-high speed to beat eggs until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in sugar until well blended, 30 seconds more. Blend in the cream, coconut milk, vanilla and salt.

Pour mixture into ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Usually this means churning about 20-30 minutes.

While ice cream is churning, heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread coconut flakes evenly on a baking sheet, then toast in oven until fragrant and light brown, about 5-7 minutes. Stir it around at least once to ensure even toasting, and keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn!

Chop Samoa cookies into bite sized pieces, about 8-10 pieces for each cookie.

When ice cream is finished churning, fold in 3/4 cup of coconut flakes along with chopped cookies. Pour soft ice cream into plastic containers and put in freezer to harden for at least 4 hours. (If you choose to add a fudge or caramel ribbon, pour 1/3 of soft ice cream into container, then drizzle or spread fudge sauce, then pour 1/3 of ice cream, layer more fudge, and top with last of ice cream.)

To serve, top with additional toasted coconut and chocolate and caramel syrup, if desired.

Recipe adapted from Ben and Jerry's.