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This week we made a pesto pasta recipe from Playing Grownups. See how we did!
SOPHIE:
Expertise: Advanced
Ease: You probably couldn’t find an easier recipe than this.
Customizing: I added more parmesan, more sun-dried tomatoes and less cream cheese. The basil came from my garden, so the freshness of the dish was divine. I also used bow tie pasta rather than screws!
Repeatability: I prefer my pesto to be oil based rather than cream based so I may not make this again; it was definitely interesting and has the potential to be made again.
Melissa’s Nutritional Tidbit: I agree with Sophie on this one on the cream vs. oil in the pesto. While cream cheese may, well, be creamier, it also adds unnecessary fat. Pesto is perfectly delicious with olive oil and much healthier too. If you’re looking for the cheese factor, you can add a little bit of parmesan or feta (try not to put too much because of the salt).
A quick note about fresh basil (or just fresh anything): love love love!! I secretly want a herb garden on my window sill and in my backyard when I own a house someday. My grandfather had a garden on his farm and everything was always just so fresh and delicious. There is something so beautiful and meaningful about having fresh produce on the table. If you can do it, it’s definitely worth the extra effort.
HADAS:
Expertise: Careless, I used to fail in making pasta for stupid careless reasons. /sheepish
Ease: Super easy.
Customizing: More garlic!! No parsley, only basil. No cheese most of the time.
Repeatability: I make pesto every so often and freeze it for future use in an ice cube tray. I find that I can’t eat too much of this pesto pasta as after five bites it gets a bit bland for some reason. I read that pine nuts have that effect… Although, you really cannot go wrong with basil and garlic!
VANESSA:
Expertise: Beginner
Ease: Super easy
Customizing: I used wheat pasta, left out the cream cheese, and used very little parmesan cheese. It turned out good, better the next day as cold pasta salad.
Repeatability: Probably, it was easy for a good summer dish for a BBQ if you make it as cold pasta salad.
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