Roasted Carrot and Harissa Hummus

It’s Thursday. But for me if feels like a lazy Sunday. It’s the first day in a long while that it has silently rained for hours. My head feels cloudy like the weather, but my mind feels calm. For some reason this grey day fills me with peace and quiet. As I write this, I am sitting on my dark blue couch, curled up in my favorite blanket, over looking the purple and pink garden full of summer flowers. I have the urge to play Jack Johnson’s "Banana Pancake" song…however, neither do I have bananas nor do I have my fiancé around to share them with. So instead I write.

Today is the first day of summer break. My first year of graduate school is now behind me. All I can say is “wow". My mind is blank, my adrenals exhausted…one down, one more to go. Naturally, with so much free time, all I want to do is create. So that is what I did.

Homemade hummus is so easy to make. Not only that but the quality of homemade hummus is 100x that of what you can buy in the store….and much cheaper.

Hummus is great to have around. It is very versatile. You can spread it on sandwiches or wraps, you can use it as a dip, or you can even warm it up and serve it along side a salad and fresh bread. Whatever your heart so desires. Its full of good fiber, plant protein, and essential fats. Alongside veggies, that are full of bioactives and important vitamins and minerals, you have yourself a balanced snack. Cool right?

Well the hummus I made today was based upon what I had in my refrigerator. Carrots and harissa caught my eye. Hmm…sweet and spicy, that sounds good!

So here it is…the magic that came together in whirl.

Roasted Carrot and Harissa Hummus

Preparation time: 30 minutes total, 10 minutes active

I like to divide my hummus into two 8oz mason jars. This keeps the hummus fresher for longer or you can give one jar away!

Makes about 2 cups

For the hummus:

3 carrots, pealed

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 15oz can of garbanzo beans, drained

Juice of 1 small lemon

1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar (regular will work too, color will just be slightly different)

2 tablespoons roasted tahini

2 teaspoons harissa

¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Fresh ground pepper to taste

To prepare the hummus: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the carrots in half and chop into chunks. Toss in 1 teaspoon olive oil and place onto a baking sheet. Roast in oven for about 20 minutes or until tender.

            Meanwhile in a large food processor add garbanzo beans, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, tahini, harissa, and salt. When the carrots are done add them into the food processor as well and pulse to combine. Slowly add in the olive oil. Process until smooth. Season with fresh ground pepper and more salt to taste.

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Impromptu Tostadas with a Vegan Chipotle Aioli

After a wonderful and exciting weekend filled with friends and family, a half marathon, and a delicious brunch with a celebratory toast, I welcome the busy week ahead of me. Midterms are in full force, and projects are slowly swooping in. All the while the bright colors of poppies in the garden and the warm breeze of late spring entice me to play....."strong and steady, strong and steady." This is my mantra for life. Not only when I am racing up another steep hill, but also when I need to start charging through my growing to-do list. "Don't lose focus." It helps me accomplish one hour at a time and one day at a time until I get to break!

Break time means either running or cooking during the week. After a long race yesterday, I decided to give my legs a rest and enjoy the quiet kitchen all to myself. With a glimpse into the refrigerator, I quickly decided what would hit the spot...something savory, spicy, but not too heavy...tostadas!

I love tostadas. I probably make them once or twice a week. They are incredibly delicious and very versatile. You can use whatever you have in the fridge and load them up with a ton of fresh goodies. Also, tostadas are one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to make an impressive gluten-free meal. Since corn tortillas are gluten-free, as well are beans, veggies, your homemade chipotle aioli, and pan-fried eggs, within minutes you can have yourself a balanced nutrient dense and gluten-free meal! 

So if you have a busy week ahead and are craving some Mexican flavors, try these healthy and fresh gluten-free and dairy-free tostadas!

Impromptu Tostadas with a Vegan Chipotle Aioli

Tostadas are refreshing and delicious, especially when it is 80 degrees outside. They are easily assembled, and can be put together with whatever you have in your refrigerator. Don’t be frightened by the long recipe, it is really easy and quick to make. Just get creative and have fun!

Serves two

For the vegan chipotle aioli:

¼ cup coconut milk (full fat)

½ lime

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons maple syrup

1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon chipotle powder

¼ teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon nutritional yeast powder

For the corn tortillas:

4 corn tortillas (I used Mission “extra thin”)

Extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt

For the toppings:

10 small mushrooms, sliced

½ small yellow onion, thinly sliced

2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt and pepper

½ mango, peeled and diced

½ avocado, diced

1 tomato, diced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Squeeze of lime

1 carrot, shredded

½ cup shredded cabbage

2 cups mixed salad greens

4 eggs

½ cup refried beans

To prepare the chipotle sauce: Mix all the ingredients together in a small mason jar and set aside for flavors to develop.

To prepare the corn tortillas: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place corn tortillas on to a baking sheet and brush each side with olive oil. Sprinkle each with a little sea salt and place into oven. Set timer for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes have passed flip the tortillas and return to oven for 5 minutes. They should be crisp like a corn chip. Remove from baking sheet and allow to cool.

To prepare toppings:Meanwhile, heat a small frying pan to medium heat. Add 1 tsp olive oil, the onions, and the mushrooms, and sauté until onions and mushrooms are golden brown. Season with a pinch of sea salt and pepper.

In a small bowl add the mango, avocado, tomato, cilantro and lime juice. Season with a pinch of sea salt. Set aside. In a separate small bowl, mix together the shredded carrot and cabbage. Place mixed greens into a small bowl as well.

Finally, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium heat in a small frying pan. Add the 4 eggs and reduce heat to medium low. Season with salt and pepper. To heat the refried beans place into a small saucepan or cover them and microwave for a minute.

To assemble the tostadas: Either offer the toppings individually and allow people to pick and chose what they like or assemble yourself. First spread the refried beans onto the baked corn tortillas. Then add the sautéed onions and mushrooms, and spoon 1 teaspoon of the aioli over top. Continue to top with mixed salad greens, shredded carrot and cabbage, and once again top with chipotle aioli. Finally add the mango avocado salsa and top each tostada with a freshly fried egg. Serve immediately. Offer more chipotle aioli or your favorite hot sauce.

Note: To mix it up replace eggs with: sauteed turmeric tofu, pan-seared and sliced pasture-raised beef, or some garlic prawns.

For another great gluten-free recipe and tips on how to have a gluten-free kitchen check out the Zing Bars Blog.

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Cravin' Me Some Quinoa

What a gorgeous day in the Pacific Northwest! Blue bird skies and temperatures up into the 80's have us reaching for last years bathing suits that are patiently waiting in the back of our dressers. Our white arms and legs are now free to the warmth of the sunshine and the cool tickle of the warm afternoon breeze. Break out the skin and let the vitamin D absorb into our much deficient bodies! 

Vitamin D is essential for overall health and well-being. Almost every day a new study reports another important role vitamin D plays in our bodies. Everything from bone health to immunity relies on vitamin D, a vitamin so precious for it is unavailable to us in the Pacific Northwest between the months of October to March. However, there is a trick, one that many do not know. Sunscreen blocks out vitamin D absorption. Therefore, let those warm sun rays tickle your skin for 20-30 minutes (in a bathing suit) to achieve your days worth of vitamin D, and then apply the sunscreen.

Well in celebration of the lovely weather, today I share with you my sunshine quinoa salad, stock full of good nutritious grains, veggies, and fats. It doesn't provide any dietary vitamin D, but while eating this outdoors on the patio, you will get your added D3! The salad is however, full of fiber, vitamin C, good healthy fats, and bioactive compounds, vegetarian protein, and lots of happy vibes. So enjoy!

Quinoa:

Many grains are incomplete protein sources, lacking significant amounts of lysine and isoleucine, and lack a natural source of fat.  Quinoa, on the other hand, is note worthy grain offering significant amounts of lysine and isoleucine making it a complete vegetarian protein. It is also rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat oleic acid, as well as alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3. Also on the plus side, because quinoa is a whole grain, its sugars are broken down slowly in our gut, allowing us to manage blood sugar levels and maintain a steady source of energy. Yaay!

So go out play in the sun, and eat yourself some energy and nutrient dense Sunshine Quinoa Salad!!

Sunshine Quinoa Salad

Preparation Time: 35 minutes

This refreshing summer salad can be a great lunch entrée or a side for an outdoor barbeque. Accompanied by fresh strawberries and sparkling lemon water this sunshine quinoa salad can change from side to main course in no time.

Makes 4 large servings

For the quinoa:

2 cups quinoa

4 cups water

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 teaspoon turmeric

For the vinaigrette:

Juice of 1 large lemon

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon honey

¾ teaspoon fine sea salt

Fresh ground pepper

For the salad:

½ cup pine nuts

½ cup craisins

1/3 cup chopped mint

1/3 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

2 cups finely shredded green cabbage

10 radishes, thinly sliced

To prepare the quinoa: Place quinoa, water, turmeric, and sea salt in a 2-quart saucepan and cover with lid. Bring to a boil, stir, and immediately turn off heat, leaving the pan on the hot burner. Keep covered and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes. Uncover and fluff with fork.

To prepare the citrus vinaigrette: Meanwhile, using a citrus juicer juice the lemon and pour into a large serving bowl. Add extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, and sea salt. Stir until honey and sea salt are dissolved. Add fresh ground pepper to taste.

To prepare the salad: In a skillet over medium heat, toast pine nuts until golden. Stir frequently to avoid burning. Set aside and allow to cool. Add the mint, parsley, cabbage, radishes, and cooled pine nuts to the vinaigrette. Mix well. Slowly fold the cooled quinoa into the vinaigrette mixture making sure to break up any quinoa clumps. Mix well.

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Whole Foods Dessert: Blueberry Kiwi Tartlets

This dessert is not only fun and easy to make but is also vegan, gluten-free and sugar free. The wonderful thing about making raw desserts is the quick clean up and minimal use of tools. All you need is a food processor, a spatula, a muffin tin or tart form, and some bowls for soaking. However, the most satisfying aspect of raw desserts is the ability to make something super delicious and satisfying that is made out of whole food ingredients--ingredients that not only provide you with energy but also contain a whole host of additional nutrients. You alone are the sole processor of the dessert from start to finish.

So you might be asking yourself, what is a whole food? And what is a whole foods diet? Here are some great questions to ask yourself in order to understand if the foods you are eating are in fact “whole foods” (1).

1.  Can you imagine it growing?
2.  How many ingredients does it have?
3. Have any of the original parts been removed?
4. What has been done to the food since it was harvested?
5.  How long has this food been known to nourish humans?

Example: Blueberry

1.  Yes I can imagine growing.
2.  Only 1 ingredients, itself.
3. Nope, the whole blueberry is still there.
4. The blueberry is stored either fresh or frozen.
5. Blueberry has been around a very long time.

If you can answer all these questions about your food with the same answers, then YES, it is a whole food and it is apart of a whole foods diet.

However, there are also some whole foods that may have been processed or refined prior to your consumption. In reality there are only minimal foods that require zero processing or refining prior to eating, for instance an apple.  An apple is usually eaten just as is with the skin and all. However, an orange does need a little bit of refining. We peel the thick skin in order to eat the juicy, sweet orange flesh. However, the orange itself is still considered a whole food.

In order to understand processed vs. refined I will define the words for you below.

Processed: When a food is changed from its original form. For instance steaming asparagus, baking a potato, or chopping an onion (1).

Refined: When one or more original parts of the food is removed and discarded. For example juicing an orange or extracting oil from an olive (1).

The examples listed above are simple processes or refinements, ones that you yourself could do in your own home. However, today most foods we consume have been processed and refined multiple times over prior to its consumption in your meal. Food items sometimes no longer even resemble their natural form, losing their natural color, taste, texture, and aroma and not to mention their nutrients and phytochemicals. Instead additives, such as starch, sugar, salt, or fat, replace what has been removed from the initial whole food. Meanwhile the physical properties of the foods are altered, causing potential health problems.

So today I made tropical blueberry kiwi tartlets out of 90% whole food ingredients, which were processed or refined only by myself.

Blueberry Kiwi Tartlets

Serves 14

Whole Food Ingredients:

2/3 cup Almonds (raw)

1 cup Cashews (raw)

1/3 cup Sunflower Seeds (raw)

1 Tbsp Whole Flax Seeds (raw)

6 Medjool Dates

2 Kiwis

1 cup Blueberries (frozen or fresh)

1 Lemon

1 Vanilla bean

¾ tsp Himalayan Pink Sea Salt

Minimally Processed or Refined:

2 Tbsp Coconut Milk (without added guar gum, Natural Value is a good brand)

1/4 cup Almond Milk (homemade)

2 Tablespoons Organic Maple Syrup (or honey)

1 tsp Ginger Powder (could use freshly grated ginger to taste)

Directions: 

Don't let the long list scare you from trying to make this recipe. I just tried to be very clear with each step. Also, this recipe can be tailored to your liking. Its easy to swap nuts or use what you have on hand. Feel free to get creative and use what you have available at home!

Getting Ready:

1.  Pit the Medjool dates and coarsely chop them. If they seem really dry you may want to soak them for 5 minutes. However, if they seem fresh and gooey then toss them into the food blender and skip the soaking.
2. Use a coffee grinder and grind the 1 Tbsp of flax seeds. Place the ground flax seeds into a bowl and mix with 3 Tbsp fresh water.
3.  Place cashews in separate bowl and cover with fresh water.

Making The Crust:

1. If dates needed to be soaked, drain the water, and place the dates into a food processor along with the almonds and sunflower seeds. Add ½ tsp of pink sea salt and zest of 1 lemon. Process until mixture resembles a coarse dough. It will naturally form a ball.
2. If making individual tartlets, form 14 individual small balls and place 1 into each mini cupcake form. Using your thumb and finger tips press the ball down into the tin and up the walls to form a “crust”. If making a single large tart, use all the “dough” and form a crust bottom and wall.
3. After pressing the “dough” into your cupcake tin or tart form place it into the freezer while making the “blueberry mousse”.

Making the Mousse:

1. Drain the water from the cashews and place the cashews into the processor. Peel the kiwis and add into the processor. Finally add the ground flax mixture, the 1 cup of frozen wild blueberries, juice of 1 lemon, 1 vanilla bean (scraped inside only), 2 Tbsp coconut milk/cream, ¼ cup almond milk, ¼ tsp salt, 1 tsp ginger, and 1 ½ Tbsp maple syrup.
2. Process until smooth. Taste and adjust flavors if needed. Here you can have some creativity. If you like things very gingery, add more ginger, if you want to have more lemon, add more lemon….you get the idea. If you like it as is, great!
3. Transfer the “mousse” into a 2 cup liquid measuring cup. Pull out your frozen crust and slowly pour enough mousse into each crust until they are very full. You should have about 1 cup of mousse left over. Pour the remaining mousse into a mason jar and seal for later use. Place into refrigerator.
4. Put the dessert tins back into the freezer. Allow the dessert to freeze at least an hour

Assembly:

1. If making tartlets remove the cupcake tins from the freezer and allow to unthaw about 5-10 minutes. Then using a butter knife cut the sides loose of each mini tart and scoop out the mass with a small spatula. Place all the mini tarts into a an airtight container and return to freezer.
2. If making a whole tart, place into an airtight container or into a plastic bag until you are ready to serve.
3. When serving, pull the dessert out of the freezer and allow to sit at room temp 5-10 minutes to soften the texture.  Use the remaining mousse as pretty “glue” by placing a spoonful onto each plate where you plan on plating the tartlets or tart slices. Enjoy!

References: 

1. Lair, C. Whole Foods Production. 12 April 2012.

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Rejuvenating Spring Smoothies

After a rejuvenating Spring Break filled with family, friends, adventures, and of course good food, I am craving smoothies to maintain this wonderful and energetic self I had lost the past two months. With Spring in full bloom, and even sunny warm days to tempt us into wearing light sweaters and digging for the long forgotten shades, vibrant smoothies seem to fill the sense of health and purity.

Give me fresh, give me color, and give me flavor! These two smoothies are just that.

Spring Green Smoothie

Both pineapple and kiwi are vitamin C storehouses, with one serving of this smoothie containing 313% of your daily vitamin C needs. Vitamin C is not only a powerful antioxidant but it also helps you better absorb non-heme iron found in dark leafy greens and legumes. Therefore the combination of these tropical fruits with the handful of spinach helps increase your absorption. This is very important, especially for those individuals who are following a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Spring Green
Serves 1

INGREDIENTS
1 cup pineapple, diced
1 kiwi
1 generous handful spinach
1 tsp chia seeds
1/2 cup coconut water
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
Squeeze of lemon

DIRECTIONS

Place all ingredients into blender. Blend until smooth.

Nutrition Information (Per Serving): Calories 200 cal; Total fat 2.9g; Total carbohydrates 41.5g; Total Dietary Fiber 7.4g; Protein 4.3g

Sunshine Mango Smoothie
Turmeric and ginger make their name in this sunshine colored smoothie. Turmeric is gaining a lot of recognition for its impressive anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. The bioactive compound curcumin is responsible for the benefits of turmeric by stabilizing free radicals. In recent animal studies they have also seen the ability of curcumin to increase basal metabolic rate resulting in significant weight loss. Curcumin is also used in cancer and Alzheimer's prevention.

Ginger is known for its potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties and is also commonly used to reduce nausea and vomiting.

Sunshine Mango
Serves 2

INGREDIENTS
1 mango, peeled and diced
1/2 cup great northern beans
Juice of 1 medium orange
1/2 cup coconut water
Juice of 1/2 lemon/lime
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp ginger
2 Tbsp Coconut Milk (full fat)
Handful of ice
1 tsp of honey (optional)

Note: I think the smoothie is sweet enough without the honey, but some just like it a bit sweeter. I would taste test before adding in the honey and then decide. Also, the coconut milk I like best is full fat without any added guar gum. Natural Value is one of the good options out there.

DIRECTIONS

Place all ingredients into blender. Blend till smooth.

Nutrition Information (Per Serving): Calories: 190 cal; Total Fat 3.1g; Total Carbs 42.1g; Dietary Fiber 6.5g; Protein 4.7g

If you want some more smoothie ideas check out Zing Bars. I created five smoothie recipes utilizing their nutrition bars as a base for some timeless classics. 

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The Overlooked Beauties and Their Health Benefits....ROOT VEGETABLES!

I am nutrient rich, sometimes lightly sweet or even spicy, versatile and easy to prepare, found in many different colors, but often overlooked…what am I? I am a root!! A parsnip, a turnip, a rutabaga, a yam, a sweet potato, a russet, a carrot, or even perhaps a radish, a chioggia beet, or a sunchoke, gosh I am everywhere!!

Root vegetables are a great source of complex carbohydrates, meaning the digestive track has to work harder to digest the sugars within. This is great news, because the sugars are not able to immediately spike our blood sugar, as would a slice of white bread. This allows our body to produce a constant stream of energy versus a whole bunch at once. In addition, root vegetables pack quite a bit of fiber, helping to strengthen colon muscles, which reduces the risk for diverticulosis. Also, fiber helps clean the colon by sloughing off old cells including those that may be carcinogenic, and can help reduce cholesterol by trapping the molecule as the fiber works its way through the digestive tract.

Fiber, in its natural form, found in fruits, vegetables, and grains, is part of balanced diet. Did you know that the recommended intake of fiber for women is 25 g/day and for men 38 g/day? Sadly, many people do not get nearly enough fiber in their diet, consequently increasing their risk for GI diseases.

However, I know that besides potatoes and carrots, root vegetables seem to bring even the good cooks some anxiety. They are cheap and often grown local yet many people overlook these nutritional storehouses. It seems as though over the last generations roots have lost their dominance in the kitchen, but I am here today to prove to you why they should return as a mainstay in yours! Perhaps they intimidate you, perhaps you don’t even think about them, either way its time to give them a shot.

Rutabagas are peppery and delicious. When roasted they turn bright yellow and look beautiful mixed with a variety of other root vegetables.  Rutabagas are a great source of vitamin c, and are considered a good source of potassium, vitamin A, and of course fiber. Why is potassium important for health? It is a natural electrolyte which helps maintain normal body functions and may even protect against high blood pressure.

What to look for:

A smooth, heavy for its size rutabaga without cuts or dents.

Beets are one of my favorite root vegetables. They come in many different colors, yellow, red, and even striped pink and white. If you like to get creative with color, beets can be a fun root vegetable to add to your plate. Full of phytonutrients called betalains, beets are able to provide anti-inflammatory, detoxification, and antioxidant support. They also contain excellent amounts of folate, which is an essential nutrient especially for women of childbearing age. Beets are also a very good source of fiber and a whole host of minerals needed for optimal health.

What to look for:

Chose small or medium sized beets that have a smooth surface void of any cuts, shriveled spots or bruises. If consuming beet greens, make sure they look crisp and tender.

Sweet potatoes taste just like their name and are a healthy substitution for potatoes. If baked or roasted they shine all by themselves, and all they need is a touch of salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Sweet potatoes are unique because they are a good source of vitamin B6, which is needed to reduce high levels of homocysteine in the blood. A high level of homocysteine is found to have toxic effects on heart health. In addition sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber and other minerals.

What to look for:

Chose firm sweet potatoes without damage marks or shriveled skin.

An easy and tasty way to incorporate root vegetables into your diet is by roasting them! Simply preheat the oven to 400 degrees and meanwhile wash, peel and dice your root vegetables into chunky bite size pieces. Toss them with melted coconut oil (or even olive oil), salt and pepper and spread out on to a large baking sheet. Do not let them overlap, and make sure to give them space. Then let them bake about 20 to 30 minutes, stirring them about every 10 minutes. I just set a timer for 10 minutes which makes it really easy. When they are tender and slightly crispy along the sides they are done!

I like to toss these nutrition gems into my salads, make soups, use them as a side, or even eat them raw!

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Pistou...a little for me and a lot for you

Ahhh…its crunch time this weekend. Midterms are next week, and everyone seems to be gasping for air a second too late. Cortisol levels are high and family and friends know to return another day when the skies are bright blue and the birds are chirping. Some students maintain their energy with coffee and peanut butter sandwiches, but I as a nutrition student and food lover, still have to make the time to create something delicious and nutritious.

Today I am only going to share with you a delicious meal full of color and flavor. There will be no nutrition information or research, just the simple joy of creating something beautiful.

Last weekend I competed in Bastyr’s Top Chef, and my partner and I won! It was a magical hour, full of creativity and excitement. Sumac scented beet latkes topped with a poached egg and fresh herb pistou won the prize!

Pistou is a French creation similar to pesto. It is made of herbs, olive oil, and garlic. My version included parsley, basil, and watercress, with the bright flavors of lemon, and the earthy flavors of pure Californian grown organic extra virgin olive oil. Bright green and aromatic, this pistou is sure to please even without the nuts or the parmesan cheese. Believe me, as of late I put it in everything or on everything. Yum!

With roasted brussel sprouts and walnuts, and sautéed cranberries and shallots, I tossed whole wheat rotni pasta with a few healthy dollops of pistou. As a garnish, I used shaved asiago. To keep this lovely dish vegan, just omit the asiago, and voila there you go!

Pistou Rotini with Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Walnuts and Cranberries

Pistou

Makes about 2 cups

1 bunch watercress, washed

1 bunch parsley, washed 

1 bunch basil, washed

1 lemon, zest and juice

1 large head of garlic (about 16 cloves)

1/2 cup + 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Peel all the cloves of garlic and put into a small saucepan and cover with cold water. Heat until boiling.

2. When water is boiling, drain the water and cover the garlic with fresh cold water and heat to boiling again. Repeat the process one more time, however reserve 1/4 cup of garlic water.

3. Put the reserved garlic water, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and the garlic cloves into a food processor and process until smooth. Transfer the garlic paste into a separate bowl.

4. Put all the herbs into the food processor, making sure to leave the stems behind. Process the herbs until finely chopped. 

5. Add in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and garlic mixture and process. Slowly add the 1/2 cup olive oil into the mixture.

6. Finally, season with salt and pepper. Voila, your done!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Rotini Pasta

Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
12 small brussel sprouts, plus olive oil, salt and pepper
1/2 cup walnut halves
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 shallot, diced
1/2 cup craisins
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
1/2 cup shaved asiago

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, cut brussel sprouts in half if small and in quarters if large. Toss with a little olive oil and salt and pepper in a large bowl.

2. Place the brussel sprouts onto a large baking sheet and make sure not to crowd them. 

Place walnuts onto another baking sheet.

3. Roast the walnuts for about 8-9 minutes. Do not leave in any longer! Make sure to be there because the walnuts go quickly from being perfectly roasted to burnt.

4. Roast the brussel sprouts for about 20 minutes. Stir the brussel sprouts at 10 minutes and then check periodically until tender, usually another 10 minutes. They should be bright green and a bit crispy.

5. While you are roasting the walnuts and brussel sprouts heat a little olive oil in a pan and sautee the shallot until glassy. Add the craisins and sautee about 2 more minutes. Season with a little salt and pepper.

6. When the walnuts are done, allow them to cool (about 5 minutes) and then coarsely chop. 

7. Mix the walnuts, craisins, shallots, and roasted brussel sprouts together. 

8. Heat a large pot of water until boiling and cook the rotini as suggested by the package.

9. Drain the pasta and mix with about 1/2 cup pistou. Then add in the brussel sprout mixture and serve with shaved asiago, or just more pistou!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

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