Tasty Tuesday!

GracefulMeadow86

I know you've all been missing these posts, i know im sorry i suck at being the big poster lately!

So here goes!

Post something tasty!

GracefulMeadow86

I made....

Pecan Pesto using fresh basil from my friends garden (i traded her some for my overabundence of cucumbers from mine!!!!) --- I already had pecans and i cant jusify spending so much money on pinenuts....seriously those prices are just....well...NUTS!

http://judyskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/08/basil-pecan-pesto.html

INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
1-1/2 Tbsp. good-quality Romano cheese, cut into small chunks
2 Tbsp. toasted pecans
1 medium garlic clove
sea salt and pepper to taste (I didn't add very much -- start with 2 pinches and taste it)
1/2 - 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice (start with 1/2 tsp. and taste it; add more if needed)
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil (add more if needed, but this should do it)

In blender or work bowl of mini-food processor, combine all ingredients except olive oil. Pulse till everything is ground fine; add oil and process till it becomes a loose paste. Use immediately or refrigerate or freeze as desired.

 And the using that pesto....made THIS! (With rice and corn kernels)

http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2010/09/easy-recipe-for-baked-pesto-chicken.html

RECIPE on site...but it turns out like this! You basically spread the pesto on the bottom, but chicken strips on top, spread more pesto on top of that, put in a (i think) 325/375 degree oven for 25 min covered with foil. then you take it out, take off the foil, turn the oven to broiler, sprinkle with mozzerella cheese, put in the broiler for 5 min until its brown and bubbly. so super delicious. i sprinkled mine with some more toasted chunks of pecan too for extra crunch.

CariJoR

OMG! that sounds AMAZING!!! I need to start cooking since I am no longer working

lburkey21

I haven't made these but we had some Potatoes Au Gratin from Omaha Steaks last night that were delicious - these seem to be very similar. So, I may have to make them myself once our stash runs out.

Au Gratin Potato Balls

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
8 large baking potatoes
1/3 cup dried onion
8 ounces cream cheese -- may use low fat
8 ounces sour cream -- may use low fat
2 tablespoons butter
salt -- to taste
fresh ground black pepper -- to taste
parmesan cheese -- for coating balls

Bake potatoes, either in oven or microwave, Cool, peel and shred. (I use shredder on my Salad shooter) In a large bowl combine dried onion, sour cream, cream cheese, butter and seasonings. Mix in shredded potatoes until well combined.

Take an ice cream scoop and dip out mixture and roll into a ball. Roll the potato ball in Parmesan cheese until well coated and place on a cookie sheet. Continue making balls until all mixture is gone. Cover and freeze. Once frozen the balls can be placed in plastic bags or containers and stored in freezer.

To use, remove as many as needed and place on a cookie sheet. Bake in 350?F. oven for 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned.

SweetCFly

Wow that pesto sounds awesome, Kim.  I will have to try it... though unfortunately DH doesn't like pesto as much as I LOVE it.  I agree pine nuts are expensive though I'm addicted to them.  Love putting them in my salads. 

I searched Gina's Skinny Recipes this morning for a crock pot recipe for something with ground beef.  We have beef from the Farmer's Market this past Saturday that we need to use today.  Couldn't find anything though.  Haven't decided yet what I'm going to make with it.  I'm tired of burgers, maybe we'll do meatloaf and mixed fries- sweet and russett.  Our problem is that I've noticed in the summers we don't cook as much.  Last summer we had the wedding an honeymoon, plus we each went away to the beach for bachelor/ette parties, I had festivities for my best friends' wedding, my first summer with my full time job in my career after getting my masters... it was just so much.  This summer we moved and DH was OOT for 2 weeks work-related traveling.  I feel like all we do in the summer is make some sort of meat/fish with salad.  Sucks because we have this house with a beautiful gourmet chef's kitchen and top-of-the-line culinary appliances but we have yet to use them!  Oh well, it will get it's use I know because we plan to live here a long long time, but still I am getting antsy to cook!   Can't wait until fall, that's when I really get in my element and start cooking all the delicious hearty stuff. That's when I'll have to try those yummy potatoes. 

But in the meantime I did find this awesome recipe on Gina's Skinny for Kalua Pork in the Crock Pot... Hawaiian inspired... reminds me of our homeymoon   I already e-mailed DH the link to it.  Hoping we'll be able to try it out next week!  

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/06/crock-pot-kalua-pork.html