😋 Presto Pesto

 Several people, after seeing my Face Book post on my pesto, have requested the recipe and directions. If you know me well, you know that I'm an herbaceous cook. I don't believe there is anything I prepare without some sort of spice or herb in or on it. Bland food is no fun in my mind (or on my palate).

One of my favorite herbs is basil. I enjoy basil in anything from omelets to pizza to salad and pasta. A fun and easy way to incorporate basil into food is with the use of pesto, but one  must also really love garlic as well. 

Anyway, here's what I do to make and store my pesto.

I use a harvest of basil which looks to be about 10-12 cups of fresh basil uncrushed in any way. flowers and soft stems may be included in this as it's all going through the food processor anyway. 

You'll notice that I'm not particular about the varietal of basil. In my last batch I included both sweet basil and purple basil. 

Here is the full ingredient list:

basil

pine nuts are the norm, but they are expensive, so I used walnuts - cook's choice

1-3 full bulbs of garlic (not cloves)

olive oil

salt (I used kosher salt)

ground black pepper

You will notice that I do NOT use cheese in this recipe since these will be frozen. The cheese can affect that process.

Instructions:

I begin by processing the nuts first and place them in a separate bowl for later. You'll want somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 cup finely ground nuts.

Next I process the garlic and place it in a separate bowl.

Finally, I process the basil. You will need to drizzle olive oil in with the basil until it processes into a nice paste. Once you've got all the basil worked in and processed, you may begin adding the nuts and garlic. The garlic should be to your own liking. I and my family enjoy a healthy amount of garlic, but if you like it lighter in garlic, just don't include so much. Add the nuts and process till they are all mixed in. If the pesto begins to separate or seems dry, just add more olive oil. You want a nice moist, yet not extremely wet consistency. Add salt and pepper to your taste.

Freezing:

Line a large cookie or jelly roll pan with parchment paper.

Using a soup spoon, drop pesto onto the pan and form them a bit with your fingers to create little pesto mounds or balls, It's very much like working with cookie dough. I don't worry about the flat bottoms.

cover the cookie sheet lightly with plastic wrap. Don't seal the edges. 

Place the pan in a very cold freezer. I use our deep freezer. Freeze over night.

The next day, label one or two freezer bags, and quickly transfer the pesto balls to the freezer bags, seal them and place the bags into the freezer.

Presto! Anytime you need pesto, just grab as many pesto balls as you need from your freezer. I generally microwave mine for about 30 seconds to soften it. Or you can just lay it out. If you want to add cheese to it, this would be the time. 

Enjoy!

 

Chased by Hornets Leads Woman in Premeditated Attack

I began the day with a chore list set before me. 

*Move Gravel

* Trim Rhododendron Bush

*Hang Solar Lights

*Wash the windows on the Garage Man Doors

In June I ordered several tons of gravel to be delivered with the intention of using it in my herb garden. Then, July bombarded us with such extremely high temperatures that I gave up the idea of moving the gravel. Now, the weather has cooled some, and so I thought this was my chance. I was happily (if there's such a thing as happily moving gravel with a shovel and wheel barrow) moving the gravel from its pile out back and taking it to flower beds in the front. 

I found I was being hindered of getting the gravel into the flower beds due to the overgrown rhododendron, and so I got the hedge trimmers and began lopping branches. I was making pretty good progress and was feeling quite pleased with my work, when suddenly a bunch of angry hornets were swarming around my head. Man, I threw down the trimmers, began flailing my arms around my head, and ran like the dickens to the house. At the last minute, I remembered to unchain my faithful canine companion, Ruby, shooed her into the garage and closed the garage door. All this, and I was not stung nor was Ruby.

But, there went my progress. Right out the door for the day. 

And I wonder.... How is it that my plans can be so changed by something so small? But, those small creatures carry such a powerful punch in their sting and the threat of their sting. There it is - the threat of their sting. They're like a bunch of caution signs or sirens. 

After a few hours, I went to take a look just to see what might be going on. There lay my trimmers, wide open and abandoned in the yard. There in the flower bed was the wheel barrow right where I left it. There were the piles of gravel I had managed to dump, but had not leveled out. And, yes, there still  flying around were the hornets. I cautiously stepped away and returned to the safety of the house. 

So, I wonder about today. What might have happened if I'd kept going? Have I unknowingly been protected by some injury? Was it just so that I'd take time to sit and enjoy the cup of coffee with the neighbor? Was I just simply meant to slow my pace today? Or is just a bunch of hornet,s and we're just in each other's way?

Then, of course, I even wonder about my plans for this evening. The wasp and hornet spray says to spray their nest in the evening or early morning while they are sleeping. How creepy is that? I'm planning a premeditated attack on them! I feel a bit guilty about this. After all, they're just living their lives as am I. Who has invaded whose house? Are they invading my property, or am I invading theirs? And, why can't we just get along? Oh, that's right, we were getting along just fine until I disturbed their nest. Hmmmm.......  I guess I feel I have the superior reign in this situation. 

I can also rationalize this by claiming it all to be done in the name of the safety of my family and friends also. I mean, I can't have hornets threatening them as well. Right? Also, we paid money to live in this house and taxes, too. So, I have more rights! Right? What have those hornets done? Actually, what do hornets do? Do they have some job they're performing here? Here's what Casandra Maier writes on the subject.

sciencing.com/benefits-hornets-8741480.html

Gosh, it turns out they do have a significant job in the ecosystem. They eat insects, keeping that population down. They pollinate plants, including my beloved herbs. However, I do feel better about my planned attack this evening as the article does include a final paragraph admitting that when hornets and humans live in close quarters it can become dangerous for us. So, there. In the name of safety for me, my family, and my friends, this particular nest just has to go. 

😋 Happy Zucchini Bake

My husband and adult son loved this recipe! It's a great way to enjoy some of that summer zucchini.

Ingredients:

• 1 large zucchini cut in half or thirds depending on length, and then cut into medium thin slices. (I sliced around the center core to avoid the larger seeds. You will end up with some wide slices and some narrow slices.)
• 1 medium sweet onion sliced
• 1 pound browned ground beef (I used 85% lean.)
• 1 cup freshly shredded white sharp cheddar cheese. 
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 Tablespoons fresh basil chopped
• 2-3 Tablespoons fresh oregano chopped
• 1/2 a can or jar of prepared spaghetti sauce (I freeze the remaining sauce in a plastic container.)
• salt
• freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Begin by washing and cutting the zucchini. Lay it on paper towel to absorb some of its moisture. I layer my zucchini with the paper towel.

Brown the beef. Slice the onion. Finely grate the sharp cheddar cheese, Harvest and chop the herbs or you can substitute dried herbs, but reduce the amount by about half.

In a shallow 9 x 13 glass baking dish begin by laying out enough zucchini to completely cover the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, half of the Parmesan cheese, half of the herbs, about 1/3 of the browned ground beef, 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, and half of the sliced onion.

Place another layer of zucchini on top. Repeat, except this time you'll pretty much cover the top with the remaining browned ground beef. Top with onion and dollop with spoons of canned spaghetti sauce.

Bake in a preheated oven at 375 for about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the remaining cheddar. Replace in the oven till the cheese is nicely melted. 

Remove from oven and allow it to set for at least 5 minutes. I served this with roasted new red potatoes and cooked peas. 

💗 Two Weeks

I ask can you give two weeks? I recently found out that I was potentially exposed to this COVID virus. My response? I let my friend with whom I visited and our daughter for whom I babysit our grandson know of this. It was agreed that the best, safest, and most caring course of action was for me to distance myself from them. These are people who I normally hold within my tightened circle, and with whom I interact  on a regular basis. 

    Some will ask why I am fearful. It's not fear; it's love, compassion, empathy, and trust. I love my family and friends enough to give up two weeks. Two weeks, fourteen days, 336 hours, 20,160 minutes, 1,209,600 seconds (lol ... if I did my math correctly). In the course of a lifetime, this is not much to ask. Over the course of eternity, it's a mere speck, maybe less.

    However, it could mean the health and livelihood of my family and friends and their extended family and friends. 

John 15:11-13 

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

I remember thinking as a young Christian that these words spoke only of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, but as I grew and matured, I realized that these words are for us in today's modern world as well. We show our love for others when we willingly set aside our lives for the good of others. We give our time, our talents, our service, and yes, in the midst of this pandemic, we give up what we most enjoy for the sake of those we love. 

    So, I ask you. Are you willing to give two weeks? 

    Please, if you've been hospitalized, give two weeks.

    If you've been to highly exposed areas for a prolonged amount of time, give two weeks.

    If you know you may have been exposed to the virus, give two weeks.

    It's a small thing to ask, really, but it could mean the very lives of those you love most.

😋 Scalloped Zucchini Bake

Ingredients:

2 medium sized zucchini 

1 - 1 1/4 cup shredded cheese - cooks choice - I used sharp white cheddar and co-jack (I use fresh grated cheese.)

Parmesan Cheese

2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1 Tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped

Olive oil

Salt 

Freshly ground black pepper

Cut the ends off the zucchini and cut each one in half. Take each half and stand it up on its flat end so that you can easily cut medium thin slices.

I used a shallow 9x13 clear glass baking dish.

Drizzle a small amount of olive oil in the baking dish.

Use one piece of zucchini to spread the oil evenly over the bottom of the dish.

Lay in half of the zucchini. 

Sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese, a bit of salt and pepper and half of the grated cheese.

Lay the second half of the zucchini on top. 

Sprinkle with Parmesan, salt, pepper, herbs, and the rest of the grated cheese.

Drizzle with a bit of olive oil.

Bake in a preheated oven at 375 until the top is browned and the cheese looks a bit toasted.

Enjoy!

This was even good the next day heated up in the microwave. :)

😋 Creative Cooking

I would like to believe that creativity is within me and one of my gifts. I often tell people that I'm an ideas person who does not always know how to turn the idea into a reality. But, when it comes to cooking.... that I can do. When you see the 😋 you'll know that I'm sharing a recipe that is my own. Well, at least I believe it's my own. 

I'm very good at deciding what herbs and spices will pair well and enhance the foods that I prepare. So, sometimes a recipe is completely my own and sometimes I find that what I know about say baking muffins has a basic recipe and I enhance it or change it up to fit my desires or needs. 

Anything I share you can feel confident that I've tried it, perhaps a few times to get it just right, before I share it here. Enjoy.

💗 Cloudy Skies

Cloudy days are my favorite days. A cloudy sky in an interesting sky, ever changing and moving in both shape and color. There’s such a variety of clouds, too. Puffy and white and unthreatening clouds, long and wispy, quiet and peaceful clouds, clouds layered with grays and whites providing each other dramatic back and foregrounds. Then there are the clouds that roll in quickly on the heels of the wind bringing with them rumbling thunder and crashing lightning, sometimes even turning the sky a sickly yellow-green before strong winds and tornados approach. 

In the morning clouds kiss the sunrise with bright yellows and whites and grays while in the evening they blush in their own beauty through oranges, pinks, purples, and reds. Through it all the clouds are the paintbrushes of the sky, surprising me with their natural wonder. 

I look at these cloudy skies and contemplate how they reflect on life. My joys and happy surprises behave in my life as those calm and quiet clouds. Sometimes there’s only one or two small happenings that capture my momentary attention, giving me life experiences that fall back into my distant memory, but memories non the less.

At  times I experience moments of deep passion whether in love, joy, and bliss or perhaps anger or rage. In these times my mind easily pulls the memories forward, and I may experience again the brilliance that floods my heart and mind much like those dramatic sunrises and sunsets. 

And then, I meet my own pop-up storms of life. Those times when great gains or losses cross my path and I may dance and frolic in celebration or roil about in grief, despair, rage or sorrow. I  reflect on these moments of my life and consider the lessons I’ve learned, the wisdom I’ve gained, and sometimes I even grieve my very lack thereof. Still, those cloudy days have painted my landscape. They’ve shown my own true colors, for better or worse. All in all, they’ve provided a palate full of intrigue, discovery and adventure that paint the beautiful pictures of my life. 

So, when I see the cloudy days on my horizon, I’m still wrestling with the idea and understanding that I’m growing a lovely portrait of my life that is intermingled with the lives of others. Paint on, dear cloudy skies above. May my heart, mind, soul and spirit be ready to receive the lessons and memories you brush across this life I call mine.