Garlic Pesto Pasta and TILT!

Wow this week went by fast! I had wanted to do some more posts this week but as you can see it's already Thursday and that didn't happen. We are busy at work rehearsing away because our first show of the season is next week! I'm going to do a post about the show tomorrow so those of you in Utah can come check it out. It really is a fantastic show with lots of great contemporary choreography. My favorite thing about my job is performing so check out the blog tomorrow for more details.


I made another dish from the Better Homes and Gardens 365 Vegetarian Meals the other night. This one is for all of you who are garlic lovers! We love garlic in this household and use it whenever we can. I personally love roasted garlic and could probably eat a whole bulb! Since I also love pesto this is a great garlic infused variation that has a great nutty flavor with the added treat of the pine nuts!

Fusilli with Garlic Pesto

Makes: 6-8 servingsStart to Finish: 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 15
  cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/3
  cup lightly packed fresh
                 basil leaves
• 1
  pound dried fusilli, 
                 gemelli, or

                 tagliatelle pasta
• 1/2
  cup olive oil
• 1/3
  cup pine nuts, toasted
• 2
  tablespoons finely shredded 

                 Pecorino Romano cheese (1/2 ounce)
• 3/4
  teaspoon sea salt
• 1/8
  teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1
  cup small fresh basil leaves
• 1/4
  cup finely shredded Pecorino Romano cheese (1 ounce)
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Directions
  

  1.In a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven, cook garlic cloves in a large amount of boiling salted water for 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer garlic to a blender. Add the 1/3 cup basil leaves to the boiling water and cook for 5 seconds; remove with slotted spoon and drain well on paper towels. (Do not drain boiling water.) Add basil to blender.

  2.Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions. Before draining pasta, remove 1/2 cup of the hot cooking water and set aside. Drain pasta; return to Dutch oven.

  3.Meanwhile, for pesto: Add oil, 2 tablespoons of the pine nuts, the 2 tablespoons cheese, the salt, and pepper to blender. Cover and blend until nearly smooth (pesto will be thin).

  4.Add pesto to cooked pasta; toss gently to coat. If necessary, toss in enough of the reserved cooking water to help coat the pasta evenly with pesto. Transfer pasta mixture to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with the 1 cup basil leaves, the 1/4 cup cheese, and the remaining pine nuts. Serve immediately.* Makes 6 to 8 servings.

  *Tip: The fresh basil leaves will darken if left on top of the hot pasta too long. To avoid this, serve the pasta right after adding the basil.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  IT'S TIME AGAIN FOR TILT (THINGS I'M LOVING THURSDAYS!)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This week I'm featuring current websites/blogs/and places that I've recently discovered. Hope you find them interesting too!
  
  
  
  
  1.  Celebrity Blogs
  
  
        I love learning more and more about the blogging world everyday. It's a great online world of blogs where you can learn new things and communicate with people. It makes this huge world seem a little smaller! I've been following two celebrity blogs recently that have beautiful photos, recipes, and ideas. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The first blog is M.O.V.E:  Modern Organic Vintage Eclectic (love it!)
  This blogs creator is actress Autumn Reeser who I recognize most from playing Summer on the television show The O.C.  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  The second blog is Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP. It's an awesome collection of her travels, cooking, style, and opinions. 
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  2. Joss & Main 
  
  
  This is a great website! It provides members-only access to great brands on items for the home at members-only prices. While I haven't bought anything yet,   there are definitely tons of things I've liked. Some of the stuff is still pretty expensive but some of the deals that you can get are fantastic finds!
  

  

  
  
  3. Shooting Star Drive-In This is most definitely on my list for places I want to go stay at and luckily for me it's in Utah! I have a love for vintage things and there is a part of me that would love to someday have an airstream trailer. For now, my husband and like tent camping..... So until the day comes when airstream trailers are less expensive and we get sick of the tent this place sounds wonderful. A drive-in theatre with classic convertibles, hiking at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Audrey Hepburn themed rooms!
  

  

  
  
  
  
  

  

  Doesn't that look fun!

  
  
  
  
  That's all for now! I'll be back tomorrow with info about the upcoming Ririe Woodbury Dance Company 2011-2012 Season opener!
  
  
  
  
  Ciao, 
      Betsy