Pesto!

Pesto is one of my absolute favorites.  There isn't much better than angel hair pasta with pesto, served warm or cold, though it also makes a great accompaniment for fish, chicken, or steak.  My mom always makes a big batch with fresh herbs in the summer, and then freezes it in an ice cube tray over the winter.  Just pop one out of the ice cube tray when you're ready for a serving, and get that fresh herb feeling while it's cold and snowy outside.

Basil Pesto
2 cups fresh basil
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted and cooled
2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup Grana Padano Stravecchio (of course, fresh Parmesan always works, too)
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions
1. Pulse basil leaves, pine nuts, and garlic cloves in food processor until thoroughly chopped.
2. Slowly add oil into food processor, while food processor is on.
3. Add cheese and continue to pulse until mixture is blended.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

More healthy muffins

There's no such thing as too many muffin recipes.  These are delicious, great for your digestive tract, easy to make, relatively inexpensive, and low cal!  Where could this go wrong? I've already had two today...

Wheat Muffins

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups plain wheat germ
1 cup nonfat milk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup blueberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin tin with paper liners.
2. Mix together wheat germ and milk, and let stand for 10 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, mix together applesauce, egg, brown sugar, and vanilla.
4. Sift in all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
5. Stir in bran mixture until just blended. Fold in blueberries.
6. Scoop into muffin cups.
7. Bake in oven for 17 to 20 minutes, or until tops spring back when lightly tapped.

Makes 12 muffins, around 125 calories each.

*You can also make these even better for your digestive tract using wheat bran instead of wheat germ (same quantity in recipe); however, wheat bran can be very difficult to find in your typical grocery chain.*

My apologies for being MIA...

Well in the midst of planning to move, to wed, and celebrating other events with friends, I have failed miserably to keep up the posts.  To make up for my absence, though, I plan to repay you with a few weeks of really good food.  The next few recipes will all be ones that have been in my family for generations, and never seem to let us down.

Nana Ann's Marble Cake

Vanilla section:
1/2 lb butter
1 1/2 c sugar
4 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla

Chocolate section:
2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 c milk
5 tbsp butter
2 tbsp chocolate syrup

Directions
1. Mix all ingredients for vanilla section in one bowl. 
2. Mix all ingredients for chocolate section in another bowl. 
3. Alternate pouring the batters into any size cake pan (if you use an 8in, you may need two layers), and swirl mixtures together with a spoon. 
4. Bake for 30-45 minutes at 350, or until toothpick comes out clean.

(Simple right?)  Enjoy!