Creamy Pesto

Its been a fun and relaxing weekend, and productive at the same time - the best kind of weekend!  This afternoon we finally got the blinds put up in our windows.  After a year and eight months in this house, we now have window treatments.  Sorry neighbors, it should have happened earlier, I know.  But now the house looks that much more like a home, and I love it :)

Installing the blinds was easy, but five windows later, Carsten and I had definitely worked up an appetite.  I opened the fridge, looking for inspiration for dinner.  There it was, a beautiful piece of smoked salmon.  I thought pasta with a creamy sauce, some fresh arugula and smoked salmon sounded just about prefect - except that Carsten doesn't like cream sauces.  So I decided to go the pesto route instead, and as somewhat of a compromise, I made it a slightly creamy pesto.  I adapted a recipe I found here.  Whole wheat penne pasta with green beans and mushrooms, smothered in creamy pesto, with fresh arugula and smoked salmon on top.  Perfect.

You know you've succeeded when everyone goes back for seconds... and then some.

Ingredients
1 cup basil, packed - I mean really packed.
1 1/2 Tbs olive oil
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 Tbs lemon juice
2 oz. cream cheese

Procedure
Put all ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth.  Adjust seasoning and lemon juice to taste.

share.eat.repeat.

Bruschetta

In honor of Carina and Jamie's birthdays, we decided to throw a party - so that they could meet most of our good friends and because we just can't help ourselves.  We will throw a party for nearly every occasion.  Any excuse to have our friends over and enjoy some good food with some quality company, we'll take it!  This time we decided to make it bruschetta themed.  We were inspired by one of our favorite restaurants in Phoenix: Postino Wine Cafe.  Every time we go there, we get four different kinds of bruschetta, and their combinations are mouth watering!

My sisters and I went to a few different grocery stores to pick up tons of different topping options.  We, in part, followed a few recipes we discovered online that looked delicious, but we also let ourselves be inspired by the interesting produce we discovered at Trader Joes (pea sprouts, champagne grapes, etc.)

It made for a beautiful spread.

Here are the recipes I found online - each of them tasted amazing.  A few of them I adapted as I saw fit :)

Gorgonzola, Golden Raisin, and Arugula
Adapted from here
Ingredients
1/2 cup Mascarpone cheese
1/3 cup Gorgonzola cheese (more or less, to taste)
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup Marsala Wine
Arugula
Procedure
Mix the Mascarpone cheese with the Gorgonzola.  Use more or less Gorgonzola, as you see fit.  I'm not a big fan of strong blue cheese, so I tend to use less.  In a small sauce pan, combine the raisins and Marsala.  Cover, and let simmer until raisins look nice and plump.  Add more wine if necessary.  You should end up with plump golden raisins, with very little liquid remaining. Spread the cheese on toasted bread, top with a generous amount of raisins, and finish with fresh arugula.

Farmers Cheese, Beet Green and Arugula Pesto, and Crispy Pancetta
Adapted from here
Ingredients 

Fresh Farmers Cheese
Pancetta
Pesto (recipe here, only I added a few handfuls of arugula in with the beet greens, as well as the juice of half a lemon)
Procedure
Crisp the pancetta in a skillet over medium high heat - as you would with bacon, only don't cook quite as long. Spread some farmers cheese then beet green arugula pesto atop toasted bread.  Top with crispy pancetta.


Beet, Garlic Labneh, and Beet Green and Arugula Pesto
Adapted from here
Ingredients  

1 cup plain Greek yogurt
3 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp salt
3 large beets, with greens attached
Pesto (recipe here, only I added a few handfuls of arugula in with the beet greens, as well as the juice of half a lemon)
Walnuts
Procedure
Remove the beet greens, and set aside for the pesto.  Roast beets in the oven at 350 for about 30 minutes.  You want the beets to be slightly tender, but still slightly crunchy.  When beets have cooled, peel them (a potato peeler works well), then slice them into even slices.  I used a mandolin on the thickest setting.  Combine the garlic and salt in a mortar and pestle.  Grind into a paste.  Add it to the Greek yogurt and stir well to combine.  Store in the fridge for about an hour, to meld the flavors.  Make the pesto according to the recipe above.  I included arugula and lemon juice, for lack of enough beet greens, and for flavor.  Spread toasted bread with the Labneh (greek yogurt mixture you just made!).  Top with a couple beet slices, a dollop of pesto, and a few walnuts. 

Brie, Apple, and Bacon Onion Chutney
Adapted from here and here
Ingredients
Brie Cheese
sliced Granny Smith Apple (about 1/4" thick)
Bacon Onion Chutney (recipe here)
Procedure
Top toasted bread with a slice of Brie, apple slices, and a generous scoop of the bacon onion chutney.


Sweet Ricotta, Strawberry, and Chocolate
Adapted from here
Ingredients
2/3 cup Ricotta cheese
1/3 cup Mascarpone cheese
1 Tbs powdered sugar
1/4 tsp ground vanilla bean (optional, but makes it delicious and so pretty!) found here
sliced strawberries
dark chocolate shavings
Procedure
Mix all ingredients except the chocolate and the strawberries.  Spread onto toasted bread, top with strawberry slices, then sprinkle with chocolate shavings.


A few things I set out on the table that weren't from any of these recipes:
- chopped tomatoes tossed with cubed fresh mozzarella and fresh basil
- sliced fresh figs
- Jarlsberg cheese
- whole grain mustard
- balsamic vinegar reduction
- honey
- marionberry jam
- pomegranate jelly
- pea sprouts
- champagne grapes
- Parmesan cheese 


share.eat.repeat.

Better the Next Day Vegan Brownies

Ingredients
1 1/2 whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups brown sugar
1 1/4 cups cocoa
2 Tbs instant coffee powder
1 cup walnuts
1 15 oz can black beans
1 cup water
1 tsp vanilla

Procedure
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Drain the can of bean juice, and replace with clean water. Puree the beans and water. Combine the pureed beans with the dry ingredients and the extra cup water and vanilla.

share.eat.repeat


Recipe care of here.

Mini Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients
5 oz semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup rye flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 Tbs molasses
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Procedure
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Chop walnuts and chocolate as fine as possible. Combine with rest of dry ingredients in a medium mixxing bowl. In a a separeate bowl cream butter and brown sugar. Add molasses and egg. Mix well. Add vanilla; mix well. Mix in dry ingredients by hand. Dallop dough onto greased or lined cookie sheet and bake for 7-12 minutes.

share.eat.repeat

Recipe from 101cookbooks.

Chocolate Walnut Cookies

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbs vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts

Procedure
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream together sugars and butter; add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add dry ingredients. Mix until combined. Add chocolate chips and walnuts and mix until just combined. Dollop onto greased baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.


share.eat.repeat

Oma's Banana Bread

Ingredients
1/4 cup margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 Tbs water
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cups nutmeats

Procedure
Pree-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together margarine and sugar. Add egg and mix well. Add whole wheat flour, and combine. Combine water with banana in separate bowl and add alternatively with the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix well. Add nutmeats and vanilla. Pour into a greased 5x9 loaf pan. Bake for 60 min.



share.eat.repeat

Healthful Walnut Bran Muffins

Ingredients

3/4 cups whole wheat flour1/2 cup wheat bran

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 Tbs milled flax seed

1/4 cup applesauce

1 egg

1 large banana, sliced

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup honey

zest of one orange

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup raisins

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Procedure

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium bowl whisk egg. Add milk, applesauce, orange zest, vanilla. Stir well. Mix in dry ingredients. Add raisins, w

alnuts, honey, and banana. Mix lightly until just uniformly combined. Bake in greased muffin tin for 15-20 min.

share.eat.repeat

Recipe from here.

Chocolate Date Brownies

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup water
8 oz. dried pitted dates, chopped
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup honey
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 Tbs milled flax seed
6 Tbs boiling water
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup oats
1 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup chocolate chip

Procedure
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium saucepan, simmer 1 1/4 cup water, dates, and 1 tsp baking soda for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool. In a mixing bowl, beat honey and butter until smooth. In a small bowl, combine flax seed and 6 Tbs boiling water. Stir, and let set for a few minutes to cool slightly. Add flax mixture to butter and honey. Add flour, salt, unsweetened chocolate and 1/4 tsp baking soda. Mix until smooth. Stir in date mixture along with vanilla and oats. Mix in chocolate chips.

Pour batter into a greased 9x9 pan or pie pan. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and extra chocolate chips. Bake for 35-45 minutes.

share.eat.repeat.

Adapted from a National Honey Board recipe.

Kayls

Ingredients

2/3 cups sweetened flaked coconut

1 cup chocolate chips

2/3 cups walnuts, chopped

1/3 cup almonds, chopped

1 cup cut dried fruit

1 1/3 cups flour

1/3 cups rye flour

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

4 Tbs margarine

4 Tbs apple sauce

1 Tbs peanut butter

1 cup brown sugar

2 Tbs milled or ground flax seeds

2 Tbs boiling water

1 tsp vanilla

Procedure

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream margarine, apple sauce, peanut butter, and brown sugar together in large mixing bowl.  In a separate small bowl combine flax, water, and vanilla.  Let sit for one minute with light stirring.  Add to margarine mixture.  Add flours, baking powder, and salt (As long as you have 1 2/3 cups flours you can use any combination of white, whole wheat, and rye).  Mix well.  Add coconut, chocolate chips, nuts, and dried fruit (we used 2 parts prunes to one part raisins in this batch--feel free to leave out the chocolate or substitute it for more dried fruit for a vegan option).  Stir together.  Drop onto greased baking sheet.  Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Let cool on baking sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring to drying rack.

share.eat.repeat.

Heavily adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe.

Vegan Dias Cookies

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp flax seed

3 Tsp water

1 Tbs banana
3/4 cup butter flavored crisco
2 Tbs vanilla
2 Tbs coconut milk
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup oatmeal
>1 cup vegan chocolate chips
>1 cup broken walnuts

Procedure

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Crush flax seeds with a mortar and pestle. Simmer crushed seeds with 3 Tbs water on medium heat for 2 minutes. Cream together crisco, flax seed water mixture, and brown sugar. Add vanilla and cocnut milk. Stir. Add flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix well. Add oatmeal, chocolate chips, and nuts. Mix. Bake for 9-11 minutes on a greased non-stick pan or cookie sheet until the tops just turn golden brown. They will look like they are not done yet but they will harden on as they dry. Let sit on pan for 5 minutes before transfering to a cookie rack.

share.eat.repeat.

Adapted from a Dias Family Recipe.

Oatmeal Walnut Scones with Maple Glaze

For Scones

1 1/2 cups rolled or quick oats

3/4 cups coarsely chopped walnuts

1/4 milk

1/4 cup cream

1.4 cup maple syrup

1 egg

1 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

10 Tbs cold butter, diced

For Glaze

3 Tbs maple syrup

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spread oats and walnuts out onto a baking sheet and toast them in the oven for about 8 minutes, or until visibly browned. Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature. Increase oven to 450 degrees F.

In a small mixing bowl whisk together milk, cream, syrup and egg. Put flour, baking powder, and salt in the workbowl of a food processor and mix just enough to mix up the dry ingredients evenly. Add butter to food processor and mix until the consistency reaches that of coarse sand. Transfer the mixture into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add in room temperature oats and walnuts. Fold in wet ingredients. Gently mix and knead to evenly incorporate all ingredients. Turn out onto lightly floured surface, and form desired scone shapes. Place scones on greased baking sheet and bake for 12-14 minutes.

Once finished scones cool, whisk together maple syrup and powdered sugar and dizzle over scones. Let set for a minutes or so before serving.

share.eat.repeat

Adapted from a Cook's Illustrated recipe.