It's a Pasty Night

Early Season means bountiful herbs. While herbs are a wonderful addition to any meal, few recipes call for more than a tablespoon or so. But not pastes. Oh no, when your fridge is overflowing with parsley, basil, kale (granted not an herb) and cilantro, its hard to resist the temptation of pastes.

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On the menu tonight:

1) Spicy Peanut-Cilantro Spread.  

2 C chopped cilantro

2 cloves garlic 

1 t lime zest and juice of 2 limes

1 chile peppers: remove seeds to reduce spiciness. 

2 tablespoons peanuts

salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Add to magic bullet and blend!! mmm.

2) Kale and Walnut Pesto.

1/4 C chopped walnuts. Toasted to perfection.

1/2 t salt

1/2 lb of kale

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 C olive oil

1/2 C freshly grated Parmesan cheese 

salt and pepper to taste

Directions: boil kale in water with 1/2 t salt. Cook until tender. Add all ingredients to 

food processor and blend, slowly adding olive oil (not possible in magic bullet).

3) A Parsley-Basil Blended Pesto. 

2C basil and parsley. Any ratio works. 

1/3-1/2 C olive oil

2 cloves of garlic 

1/4-1/2 C pine nuts toasted (walnuts work too)

1/2 C Parmesan cheese

lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Blend!!

Top: Basil/Parsley Pesto.  Left: Kale-Walnut Pesto. Right: Spicy Cilantro-Peanut Spread