Broccoli Pesto

Want to know a secret?

Good. Because I'm going to tell you anyways.

This pesto is better than the real pesto...for real.

And it's healthier. So you can eat,like, the whole thing instead of two teaspoons.

Broccoli Pesto
Adapted from Everyday Food

1 bunch of broccoli cut into pieces (about 4 cups)
1/2 c. packed parsley or basil
1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese
the juice of 1 lemon juice
1/4 c. olive oil
1 clove of garlic
Salt and pepper
1 can (15.5) Cannelloni beans
10 oz. of cooked pasta


In a large pot of boiling water cook broccoli until very tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a food processor. Refill pan with water and return to stove to cook the pasta.


Meanwhile, add the remaining ingredients and half of the beans to the processor. Puree until smooth. 


Mix the pesto along with the remaining beans into the pasta or serve it on top of the pasta and top it off with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie

You are probably looking at this recipe because there is 'cheesecake' in the title and if you're anything like me cheesecake is just something that can NOT be resisted!!!

Now I hate to disappoint, really I do......

but there is no cheesecake to be found in this recipe....waaaaaait, WHAT??!!!

Ok, I promise there is a good reason and I promise this tastes just almost as good as the real thing.

You see, I was really craving cheesecake. At 10:30 at night. Cheesecake takes FOREVER to make. The cardboard crusted mush labeled as cheesecake with a $7 tag at the grocery store next door just wasn't going to cut it.

So I came up with this instead. Bonus, it's much healthier for you....you can thank me later when you still fit in your bathing suit after eating drinking some 'cheesecake'.

Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie

1 c. frozen strawberries

2 tbsp fat free cream cheese

1 individual size strawberry cheesecake yogurt (plain,vanilla, or strawberry are also good)

2 graham cracker sheets

1/3 c. strawberry juice (I use Crystal Light)

2/3 c. milk ( I use fat free)

Combine all ingredients in the blender and enjoy! Makes 2 servings.

Note: Feel free to increase or decrease the amounts based on how thin or thick you prefer your smoothies. I have also made this using only milk and not juice and it still comes out tasting like yummy cheesecake, just a little less strawberry tasting!

Bacon, Cheese & Tomatoes Oh My!

Bacon!!! 

Bacon Mayo, Bacon Ice-cream, Bacon-Cheddar Biscuits, Bacon Corn Chowder, Bacon Pudding.....WAIT???!! WHAT???!!! Ya, I just went there.....

Because I don't have a crazy bacon addiction or anything....

You should probably get on this bacon caravan recipe.....you too might then start dreaming of things like bacon cupcakes. Hey, at least I warned you.....

Pasta w/ Creamy Spicy Bacon Sauce

Adapted from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food

6 Slices of Bacon, chopped

1/2 an onion, chopped

1 1/2 c. spaghetti sauce

1/4 c. tomato paste

2-3 c. of water (depending on how thick you like your sauce)

1/4 c. heavy cream

1 tsp. of each of the following: paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder

Salt and Pepper to taste

1/2 lb. of pasta (I liked the curly cues, aka as fusilli

Grated Parmesan

In a skillet over medium heat, brown the bacon and onions together. Start cooking your pasta. Then stir the sauce, paste, water (I only used 2 c. as I liked the sauce a little thicker) and seasonings into the bacon and onions. Simmer for 10 minutes then stir in the cream. Toss with the pasta and serve sprinkled with some parmesan.

This recipe takes 15 minutes from start to finish.....you have no reason not to make it :)