A Latte Lipstick

Best Pesto Recipe and Old Cookbooks

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Pesto is one of my ultimate favorites. You can put pesto on just about anything to add some delicious flavor. It can be a great appetizer before a dinner party, you can serve the pesto to dip crackers or veggies into. Or, pour over pasta for a garlicky yummy pesto pasta.

I love the smell of the fresh basil, parsley and garlic when chopping. I have added another clove of garlic to this recipe because of my garlic addiction.

This delicious recipe comes from my mother’s great cookbook collection. She has had this recipe book for almost 30 years and it is full of mouth watering goodies! Looking through her collection really makes me want to continue growing my own cookbook collection. I love how you can write in cookbooks and get messy fingers on them and it stills lasts for many many years. You can’t do that with your iPad. What are some of your favorite cookbooks?

Interesting walnut fact, if you start noticing sores developing in your mouth after eating many walnuts, don’t fret! The omega 3 in this nut can create sores from all the oil that will naturally go away after a couple days.

Lady Guinnevere was sure to check that the pesto was being properly stirred. She is always ready to lick up anything that falls on the floor, she’s a good housekeeper like that.

Hand stir in the parmesan. Choose a delicious high quality parmesan. Once you add in the parmesan, the pesto becomes more dry and less oily.

Ingredients

1 C fresh basil leaves
1/2 Tsp salt
1/4 Tsp ground black pepper
4 Cloves garlic
2 Tbsp fresh parsley
2 Tbsp chopped walnuts
1/4 C olive oil
1/2 C parmesan

Directions

Puree the basil, salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, and walnuts together in a food processor or blender. Scrape down the sides as you go. In a slow stream, drizzle in the olive oil. Consistency should be smooth and oily. Then, stir in the parmesan. Enjoy!

How do you enjoy your pesto?

Upgrade Salad with Roasted Walnuts

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This morning I had a surprising realization that I unintentionally didn’t consume any meat all week long! I didn’t feel deprived in any way and didn’t necessarily miss the meat. Thinking back on my week, I was anything but protein deprived! My meals consisted of quinoa, beans, nuts, seeds, protein powder, and eggs.

Throughout the past few months I have slowly started cutting back on meat. By no means am I saying I’m going vegan/vegetarian or cutting it out completely but I do think it’s good to not over-do it on the animal protein. Especially since there are so many other great alternatives!

Salads are great to enjoy when you are trying to lessen your meat intake. It should still have protein though! Nuts and seeds are great additions to any salad.

Upgrade your salads with some roasted spiced walnuts! It is so easy to make and immediately makes it more of a treat, and provides protein! Roasted walnuts add crispness and increase the nutty flavor. Remember to stir them around in the oven so they are evenly cooked. The nut should look a couple of shades darker when complete.

Roasted Walnut Ingredients

1/2 C Walnuts
Olive Oil to coat
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1/2 Tbsp Salt
1/2 Tbsp Garlic Powder

Roasted Walnut Instructions

Heat oven to 350. Grab a cooking tray. Coat walnuts in olive oil. Evenly mix in the ingredients. Roast for around 12 minutes. Be sure and check on them and stir occasionally.

How do you upgrade your salad?

Healthy Fall Canelli Tomato Soup

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Soups are easy to make in bulk to enjoy multiple times a week. What I love about soup is that they don’t give that leftover feel. I always reheat it on the stove and it makes it feel “new.” And yes, I know I need to get over this ridiculous notion but for now I’m still a baby about leftovers.

This is the perfect light, but delicious fall soup. Very easy to make too!

Canelli Tomato Soup Ingredients:

Cup of Grape Tomatoes

2 Cans of Canelli

6 Cups of Broth

1 Tbsp Rosemary

2 Cloves Garlic

1 Yellow Onion

Canelli Tomato Soup Recipe:

Chop the tomatoes, onion and garlic.

Toss into the crock pot, aka the cook’s life saver.

Pour in the broth.

Sprinkle in the rosemary.

Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

What kind of soup do you like to make for Fall?

Stuffed Quinoa Sweet Potato

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In the mood for a warm fall meal? I’ve got you covered friend!

This scrumptious stuffed quinoa sweet potato will grace my plate multiple times this Fall. It’s super easy and super delicious. I love this meal because it provides veggies from the broccoli/pepper, protein from the quinoa, and iron/vitamins from the potato.

The texture of this meal is perfect. The peppers and broccoli give it the perfect crunch while the potato keeps it savory and warm. Sprinkling the perfect amount of Parmesan on top is key for complete enjoyment.

This stuffed sweet potato is easily made for one person, which I love. I hate having unrealistic amounts of leftovers to store in the refrigerator. It doesn’t get eaten way too often and ends up an unexciting find a week later. A 1 time meal for 1 person is perfect, and I’m saying that in the least depressing way. Ha.

Now, get ready to be impressed with your newfound culinary skills!

Stuffed Quinoa Sweet Potato Ingredients::

1 Sweet Potato

1/4 C Quinoa

1/4 C Broccoli

1/2 Green Pepper

2 Tbsp Parmesan

Sprinkle of Garlic Powder

S/P to Taste

Recipe::

Bake the potato for 45 minutes.

Cook the quinoa.

Saute the peppers and broccoli.

When potato is baked, remove.

Get to stuffing!

Sprinkle parmesan on top.

Do you enjoy sweet potatoes or regular potatoes better?

Healthy Banana Bread Muffins Without Butter

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Banana bread should be made healthy, appreciated immensely, and enjoyed often. The combination of chocolate and banana bread is too delicious!

These Banana Bread muffins, or should I say Banana muffins?, recipe uses no added sugar and no butter! It’s moist, delicious, and great for breakfast! Any excuse to make banana bread regularly, I’ll take.

Creating muffins instead of bread means that it can be done in 20 minutes versus 60 minutes. Quicker baking time means that it is quicker in your tummy…as it should be.

Every morning should be sweet, don’t you think?

Nothing smells better than the small of baking Banana Bread. They are great for bribery too. If anything can get you out of bed in the morning, these muffins can. Banana Bread muffin with a cafe latte…match made in heaven. These are also great to grab running out the door.

Anything that is sweet that I can enjoy without too much guilt is perfect! My sweet tooth is out of control sometimes and these are great to satisfy me.

Banana Bread Muffins Ingredients

2 Eggs
3 Smashed Bananas

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1/2 Tsp Salt

1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

3/4 Cup Honey

1/2 Cup Apple Sauce
2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder (optional)

Banana Bread Muffins Directions

Preheat to 350 degrees.
Stir the wet ingredients together. *eggs, apple sauce, honey,bananas
Stir the dry ingredients together. *flour, salt, baking soda, protein powder
Combine together.
Add in chocolate chips and/or walnuts.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.

What do you like to eat for breakfast, when you want something sweet?