Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Going Green: Pesto - Pasta - and fresh vegetables

The condo patio is the haven for an herb garden. The basil, oregano, and rosemary is growing faster than we can use it. So - I needed dinner and I needed dinner fast. The frozen meal was screaming to be used. Somehow - it didn't seem appetizing after a happy hour's worth of drinks.

So - basil from the "garden", pasta from the cabinet, broccoli and peas from the farmers market (was that 2 weeks ago?!). Throw in some pine nuts, parm, oil and garlic - and it's a TASTY meal. It all took about 14 minutes including 10 minutes of cooking.

Dinner Plan: boil water for pasta. Meanwhile, toast pinenuts and garlic; chop broccoli and peel ends off of peas. Cook pasta according to package. When there are 3 minutes left of pasta cooking - add vegetables. Make pesto in a food processor. Drain pasta - and toss with pesto. Voila!

Pesto
2 cups Basil
1/4 cup pine nuts - toasted
2 garlic cloves - toasted with the pine nuts
1/4-1/2 cup parmesan cheese
salt
olive oil (4-6 TBSP to taste)

5 comments:

Ginger said...

Hi Scate

The pasta looks delicious. I am going to have to try my hand at herb growing. Is it hard? Thanks for sharing!!

Gin

Cathy said...

I cannot wait to grow herbs next year. I have to figure out a way to freeze them though. This dish looks good - there's something about pasta and broccoli together that always appeals to me.

What's Cookin Chicago said...

I love pesto, especially with pasta. Looks fantastic!

Tangled Noodle said...

That looks awesome! My herbs are also out of control right now, all this rain then sun that we've been getting. I'm a wee bit envious - being out by Lake Minnetonka, it's such an effort to wake up early enough to beat the crowds on a Saturday morning at the Farmer's Market. So I'm missing out on some great produce! Have to just haul my lazy carcass out of bed . . . .

Frieda Loves Bread said...

Never made pesto until I needed a quick dish and discovered my hubby planted some basil....didn't have pine nuts on hand, but he thoroughly loved the dish! Loved it so much, he bought 2 more plants! Like Tangled Noodle, my cilantro is out of control and needs to be cut back...but hey, we're learning!