Pesto...

FINALLY, I got the courage up to try a new recipe! My son has been pestering me to get the pesto made or dry the basil leaves because he really likes the fresh basil! I poured over various cookbooks & online recipe sites for just the right recipe. But, basically, the recipes are all very similar.... so perhaps it was procrastination that caused me to wait so long before attempting this VERY EASY task!!

Basic ingredients: fresh basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, garlic & olive oil!

Fresh picked basil.... aromatic and delicious! But now what? Admittedly, I waited longer then I should have before I picked these, but all is not lost! :) After picking off all the leaves, tossing the stems & flowers,       I washed them in cool water.

                        

I added the basil by the handfuls to my food processor and layered the ingredients....

The ratio that I used is: 1 Cup Basil, 1 garlic clove (or 1 tsp. minced garlic) 4 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese to 1/4 Cup of olive oil.

(Taken from my cookbook 'Saving the Seasons' )

I layered the ingredients, put the lid on, turned on the processor

and the machine did the rest of the work!

After it was all chopped and blended I added

more and hit the go button!

Here is the end result and yum, does it smell good! I put it by spoonfuls into

ice cube trays to freeze and then into freezer containers!

Now it is all ready for me to use for added flavor in soups or spaghetti sauce

or for one of our favorites; "Pesto Chicken"!!

NOTE: I didn't add any pine nuts, walnuts or almonds. The recipe has them as an optional ingredient added in a 1/3 cup ratio. But I'm opting to add slivered almond to my recipes as I make them!!

Picture This.....

Picture this;  it's about 7:30PM, the sun is still shining, but beginning its decent behind the trees producing shadows across the fields. I'm inside looking out the big windows towards the fields.....  

My eyes and mind started seeing and thinking in 'quilt'. It was kind of like dreaming in a foreign language for a few minutes! I could see the clear blue sky in the top section, then the field was alternating strips of darker greens and lighter greens (for the shadow effects) and then about 2/3 of the way down was gray and browns for the rock wall. Going up one side is white and dark gray and dark greens for the huge birch tree and on the other side is edging in a barn red color with a splash of yellow & green for the barn & sunflowers and at the bottom are browns & varieties of green for the garden. 

Can you see it in your mind's eye!!???  (It's ok if you don't!) It was a really awesome experience! I'm going to try to capture it in a picture and maybe make a SMALL quilt of it!! Just so you get an idea of what I'm talking about, you have to visit Kara's blog! I was visiting her blog earlier in the week and was so taken by her quilt I'm sure this is where these thoughts came from! Her mom has given her an incredible gift in teaching her how to make these beautiful pieces of art! She is an amazing young lady and a blessing to know!

Best Ever Texas Caviar

After trying a delicious new bean dip at a my friend Cathy's house a couple weeks ago, I set out to make it myself! YUMMY is the only word to describe this wonderful creation! (Ok, maybe fabulous, scrumptious and awesome would work too!)

I went into search mode to find this recipe on a few 'recipe sites' and came up with one that worked for me!! Out of respect, I didn't want to post my recipe until she posted hers...  but now, I can't wait to share it with you!

As it turns out, our recipes are almost the same! Naturally, I made a few adjustments to suit my family's taste buds... but here it is (my changes are in color).


Best-Ever Texas Caviar

2 (15 oz) can black beans, drained & rinsed    (I used one)
2 (15 oz) can white corn, drained & rinsed

2 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained & rinsed     (I used one)

1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilies, undrained  (omitted)

1 jalapeno chile pepper, seeded & diced

1 red bell pepper &

1 greem bell pepper, seeded & diced  (I used green peppers)

1 small red onion, diced     (I used 1/2 of a Vidalia onion)

1 bunch cilantro leaves, finely chopped  (I used dried)

1/2 Cup rice vinegar

1/2 Cup olive oil (I used canola oil)

1/3 Cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

After dicing & chopping put the veggies in a bowl. Put the vinegar & sugar in another bowl & put it in the microwave to disolve the sugar. Add the oil & spices... blend well then mix in with the veggies! Serve with tortilla chips or scoops!! I served them with lime tortilla chips....  THEY WERE INCREDIBLE! (Next time, I'll definately use the green & red peppers for more color variation!)

This 'Texas Caviar' is being proudly being displayed with a dear friend's Texas colors.....   THANKS AGAIN Kristy!  I know, I know, I can hear you now; "WHAT?? You left out the green chilies!!"  Yes, my friend... I did indeed! I'll leave that up to you and your 'hots' loving friends to add back in!     :)   ENJOY!!

Check This Out ... PURPLE BEANS!

We've grown them before and they are alot of fun! I wish they'd can or freeze purple... but that just isn't gonna happen! These beans grow dark purple... they are picked, washed & eaten raw as purple, but as soon as you add them to hot water.... shazzam, they become green! :) I took pictures to show you...  it is true!!

Here they are freshly picked, cut & washed! We have two varieties; yellow 'wax' beans and then the purple 'green' bean!

Here is the pot of hot water....  I just put them in!

Now, it is only a couple of minutes later.... check this out!

OK, now it has been maybe 8+ minutes......

Voila.... ready to eat!!   (And yes, they are scrumptious! Salt & butter are NOT needed!)