Basil-Parsley Pesto

When we visit Charleston we find ourselves at Coda del Pesce  at least once if not twice per trip. The menu changes daily but it’s always delicious. The one constant (non)menu item is the ciabatta bread they serve with this amazing pesto. It’s super light but really addicting & we’ve definitely asked for seconds (& wanted thirds) because it’s that good. The wait staff is super knowledgeable & more than happy to share how the dishes are prepared so of course we asked, “what’s in the pesto?” The answer was not much. Literally there are a handful of ingredients that make the pesto so delicious. Naturally,  I made some mental notes & then made it at home.

The one main element that separates this pesto from your usual pesto is also what makes it so light - it doesn’t have any cheese or nuts but it does have anchovies. I know that may sound a little unapproachable but really the anchovies just serve as a salt factor. It doesn't taste fishy what-so-ever. I promise. (Note: If you're preparing this for picky eaters who are put off by fish just don't mention the anchovies & all they'll know is that it tastes delicious.) It’s really fresh & great on everything (I mean everything: bread, fish, pizza, potatoes, veggies).

Make this & then let me know what you put it on. Tag me in your photos on instagram (@mrshoh or #HeatherOMade) if you do I'd love to see your concoctions!

Green Harissa

When we were upstate we bought a (now-I-realize-huge) bag of fresh chili peppers. I’ve used one or two for different things but wasn't sure what to do with all the others. Then I remembered I could make harissa - a spicy paste that I love to eat on falafel (this is my favorite falafel place EVER!). I’ve never made it before so I took to the inner webs & combined a bunch of recipes I found & then tossed in some greens & herbs like I do when I make pesto.

You can use this super spicy green harissa paste like you would hot sauce. You can use it on chicken, veggies, seafood, anything really. It’s super hot so just a little dab will do ya!

Garlic Scape Pesto

At lunch time I peruse the Union Square Farmers Market in NYC. It’s usually after I’ve already gone grocery shopping for the week but I can’t help but pick up the farm fresh produce they have. I mean there’s always room for blueberries & peaches & those random veggies I’ve never heard of.  A few weeks ago I saw garlic scapes for the first time offered at the farmers market (first time I noticed them that is). I looked at them & gave them a slight head tilt of curiosity & kept walking. Later that day on my Facebook feed Cookshop (a very tasty farm-to-table kind of New American style restaurant) had a photo for garlic scape "frites" they were serving that day.

I took it as a sign from the universe to check them out. So I did a bit of research (read: I googled them) & found out that they’re the top flower part of the garlic that grows out of the ground. They can be used the same way as green onions. They have a mild garlic taste. You can sautee them in olive oil & butter & toss them with tomatoes & pasta like my friend Kara does or even mix them into your meatballs like my friend Kim or make them into a pesto like I did & will be showing you today.  Whatever your choice of recipe, know that the season for garlic scapes if very short so if you see them buy them they might not be at the farmers market next week. You can even freeze them for later use!


How do you use garlic scapes? Please share below as I'd love new recommendations.

Have a great weekend!

Farro with Tomatoes, Cannellini Beans & Pesto

How was our vacation already more than a month ago? Is it me or does life always seem a bit easier, a bit lighter when it’s spent at the beach? Maybe it’s because I don’t live at the beach so every time I am there life really is, just that, a vacation :)

I’ll come back from my tangent now. So last month Chris & I ate at a cute little spot in the Isle of Palms it also had my maiden name (Pesce) in the name so we had to try it. We walked into Coda del Pesce (which if you’re practicing your Italian means 'tail of the fish') on a Sunday night. When we asked to see the menu the server said they didn’t have one for Sunday nights. Yep, that’s right, Sunday nights were reserved to family styled meals of whatever the chef felt like cooking.  We thought it over for about 3 minutes & knew right then we needed to roll the dice on the 5 course meal we were promised. Isn’t one of the best parts of eating with your family just eating what’s there & not having to make any decisions? Well it is for me.

The smiley server said 5 courses but we definitely had more dishes than that on our table & each one was just as delicious as the last.  One of the first dishes we had was an antipasta dish that was a simple combination of fresh pesto & beans. I’m sure there was something else in there - maybe a potato but the beans & the pesto are what really stood out to us. Chris loved it. I loved it. Weeks after we’ve returned I’m still thinking & talking about it, maybe even drooling a little bit. Taking a nod from this great antipasta dish I made a simple supper with the same kind of cannellini beans & pesto but I added some tomatoes & farro. It’s a great weeknight meal or just a great one if you feel like going meatless.

PS: Happy birthday to my sister-in-law, Eileen! I love you!

Simple Cheese Plate at Home

I live on cheese, olives & wine.  It might be one of my favorite ways to spend the happy hours of the day.  Cheese plates seem so chi-chi but really they are incredibly easy to whip up & enjoy.  I put this cheese plate together while we were waiting for our dinner to finish cooking. I think the best way to make a good cheese plate is to combine salty with sweet with a variety of textures. I love olives, but Chris does not, so for my salty element I used some garlicky dill pickles.  I used two cheeses, one hard (parmesan that I shaved with a veggie peeler) and one soft (goat cheese that I cut into crumbly rounds).  My sweet element was fresh clementine segments.  I always love something I can spread so I used the last of the spinach & kale pesto that I had made.  A delicious vehicle for this spread is just as important. Lucky for me there's a bakery around the corner. Even luckier for me, I have a husband who was willing to grab some fresh bread.  Cheese plates are of course delicious with wine.  I know there's a whole sommelier science behind it but I say, drink what you like in good company & if the weather permits - enjoy it all outside.

Happy weekend y'all ;)

Spinach & Kale Pesto Linguini

So of course we had our spinach & kale pesto (from yesterday's post) with pasta.  It's the obvious choice.  I tossed in some of the fresh baby kale & baby spinach leaves too for some texture.

Spinach & Kale Pesto

Kale is so trendy now & I love it. In particular baby kale.  I found a mixed bag of baby kale & baby spinach at the super market & quickly tossed it in my cart. Instead of steaming the kale & spinach I opted to make them into a delicious pesto that takes minutes to make. Oh and there's no cooking involved.  If you can turn on a food processor you can make a gourmet spread that's worth bragging about.

Ingredients

• 3 cups mixed baby kale & baby spinach
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled & halved
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• salt & pepper

Make it!

1. Blend the mixed greens, garlic, cheese & walnuts together in a food processor using the 's' blade.
2. Scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula.
3. Run the food processor  again streaming the olive oil a little at a time until it becomes a thick yet spreadable consistency.
4. Add salt & pepper to taste.
5. Serve with pasta, toast or just eat it off a spoon.

Spaghetti Squash with Arugula Basil Pesto

I cannot believe I've never had spaghetti squash - until last night. The gals at the office were chatting it up so much I had to try it. Turns out it's not only delish & gluten-free it's super easy - so don't worry about making your own pasta with some alternative flour to steer clear of flour allergies. No ma'am. Mother nature has done it all for us.

We will definitely be eating spaghetti squash at our house again & again very soon.

Click through for the full recipe & full photos of how to make spaghetti squash with arugula basil pesto.

Lemon Herb Pistachio Pesto

If you follow me on instagram you already know that I spent Sunday with the hubs in search of a farmers market.  I was eager to find some farm fresh produce to cook with for the week.  Luckily, after a quick search Chris found some great farmers markets in Northern Jersey, more specifically Ridgewood (my new favorite town).  That night we ate an early dinner with some of our farmers market finds that consisted of (store bought) sliced roasted chicken, green beans & potatoes all topped with this lemon herb pistachio pesto, quickly quick & tasty.

Read on to learn how to make my lemon herb pistachio pesto that is delicious on poultry, veggies, potatoes, bread, pasta... & pretty much anything.

Red Pepper Pesto Breakfast Sandwich

On the weekend my go-to breakfast is an egg sandwich.  I like all kinds & experiment with all things (in my fridge).  This sandwich is just a toasted english muffin plus a fried egg & a glop of roasted red pepper pesto.  Simple & tasty just what I need to make my Saturday/Sunday morning easy.

Check out my quick no-cook recipe for roasted red pepper pesto after the jump!

Teeny Tasty Pesto Taters

The other night I got home early enough to attempt my version of coq au vin (chicken in wine) which takes a bit of time and patience to make. I also whipped up these adorable teeny tiny potatoes that I bought at Trader Joe's as a side. When it came time to eat the hubs said "oh wow, so good" I looked up delighted thinking he was impressed by my faux French culinary skills of making coq au vin for the first time.  But no my husband was talking about the potatoes that took minutes to make and were pretty much the after thought of the meal.  So instead of blogging about the labor of love that was the coq au vin I'm writing about the damn potatoes instead!  

These teeny tots are quick, simple, tasty and just pretty darn cute.

What you'll need:

• 1 bag of teeny tiny potatoes
• 1 handful of parsely
• 1 handful of basil
• 1 handful of arugula
• 5 stalks of thyme (leaves only, discard stems)
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• salt & pepper

Make it:

1. Cut potatoes in half.
2. Place potatoes in a pot and add water until the potatoes are covered. 
3. Add salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
4. Cook about 10-15 minutes or until fork tender.
5. In a food processor add all herbs, garlic, salt and pepper. Pulse until finely chopped.
6. Add olive oil until thoroughly combined.
7. Drain potatoes and toss with pesto. Serve warm.