Pea Pesto

I don’t know about you, but I hated peas as a child.

TBH, I still find cooked peas pretty unappetizing, but I really love fresh peas. Their vibrant color and sweetness are welcome additions to salads and pastas, and they make a bomb ass pesto.

LRM_EXPORT_2581212499055_20190324_152400212

This recipe literally comes together in minutes and is so versatile. I have been known to just eat it by the spoonful, but it’s wonderful on crostini, mixed into a pasta salad, added to a sandwich…the list goes on.

While I am still a huge fan of traditional pesto, the peas add a freshness that can’t be beat. Plus it’s a great way to sneak some extra veggies into your diet ; )

lrm_export_2372339050038_20190324_152031338-1.jpeg

If you make this recipe, let me know what you think!

Pea Pesto

Serves: 4-6
Total time: 5 min

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Cup Fresh or Frozen Peas
  • 1 Garlic Clove
  • 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
  • 1 Cup Packed Basil
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

  1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor
  2. Pulse until full combined and a smooth texture is achieved

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

  1. Crostini: Spoon pesto onto toasted baguette slices and top with marinated artichokes and roasted red peppers
  2. Pasta Salad: Toss pesto with pasta of choice or farro, add sliced cherry tomatoes, marinated mozzaralla, and garnish with torn basil
  3. Breakfast Sandwich: Spread pesto onto both sides of a toasted ciabatta roll, add a fried egg, prosciutto, and cheese of choice (I like mozzaralla)

Advertisement

Mushroom & Walnut Crostini

Mushroom and truffle is one of those flavor combinations that can’t be beat in my book. This super easy appetizer takes this winning combo to the next level with the addition of toasted walnuts and Parmesan cheese. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser at your next gathering!

tempImageForSave

7533261792_IMG_3866

Mushroom & Walnut Crostini

Serves: 6-8
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min

INGREDIENTS

  • 16 ounces Baby Bella Mushrooms
  • 1 Shallot
  • 2 Cloves of Garlic
  • 1 Small Baguette
  • 4 tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1/4 cup Chopped Walnuts
  • 1 tablespoon Grated Parmesan (plus more for garnish)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Truffle Salt
  • Ground Black Pepper to Taste
  • Truffle Oil to Finish (Optional)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice baguette into 1/4 inch thick pieces, brush both sides with olive oil, and place on baking sheet. Bake for approximately 10 mins or until golden brown. Set aside.
  2. While the crostini are toasting, finely chop shallots and garlic. Next, using a box grater, grate mushrooms into a large bowl
  3. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil over low heat and add shallots. Sauté shallots for 3-4 minutes or until they begin to turn translucent. Add garlic and sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes
  4. Increase heat to medium and add mushrooms and 2 tbsp of olive oil. Sauté for 3-4 mins, then turn off heat and drain excess liquid from pan and set aside
  5. In a separate pan, lightly toast 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts over low heat, then add to mushroom mixture Stir in Parmesan and season with truffle salt and pepper
  6. Spoon mushroom mixture over cooled crostini. Arrange on a platter and garnish with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan and drizzle with truffle oil (optional)

Sweet Potato Pie

Friendsgiving recipe roundup continues with this Sweet Potato pie. I hope you’re as pumped as I am.

This recipe was inspired by a recent trip I took a trip to Seattle where I had a pretty amazing slice of sweet potato pie with a praline topping. I knew immediately that I wanted to try to recreate it. Our Friendsgiving dinner seemed like the perfect place to test it out.

7587846208_img_3839

As mentioned in my last post, I wanted to put a healthier spin on my desserts, but didn’t want to compromise on flavor…Not to toot my own horn, but this pie delivers on all fronts.

Both the filling and candied pecans get their sweetness from maple syrup, not refined sugar, and the addition of coconut milk makes the filling oh so creamy. It has just the right amount of sweet for it to render as a dessert, but it’s not going to make you feel like you’ve just given yourself five cavities…looking at you pecan pie.

7531206016_img_3804

I hope you find a place for this pie on your Thanksgiving table this year!

Sweet Potato Pie

YIELD: 2 Pies (12-14 Servings)

PREP TIME: 5-10 Minutes

COOK TIME: 40 Minutes

TOTAL TIME: 2-3 Hours (includes baking sweet potatoes and chilling pie crusts if making your own)

INGREDIENTS

Make your favorite basic pie crust

  • 1-2 store bought pie crust or your favorite homemade pie crust
    • I actually only used one crust for this recipe and kept the second pie crust-less for my Gluten Free guests and everyone loved it.

Pie Filling:

  • 3 lbs baked sweet potatoes
  • 1/4 cup real maple syrup
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 Teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/8 Teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Candied Pecans:

  • 20 oz of halved pecans (I used two 10 oz bags)
  • Maple syrup (confession: I didn’t measure this, just made sure the pecans were completely coated)
  • 2 Teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of sea salt

Egg Wash:

  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Tablespoon water

DIRECTIONS

  1. Bake the sweet potatoes at 425ºF for 45 minutes or until soft. Once cool to touch, remove the skins and place potatoes in a large bowl and add all other ingredients. Mix until smooth using a hand or stand mixer, then place mixture in the refrigerator
  2. Make pie crust(s) according to direction. Once fully chilled, rolled out, and place in a pie dish, score (aka poke) the dough all over using a fork and blind bake for 15-20 minutes or until the dough is very lightly golden brown.
    • Scoring =  A way of allowing steam to escape during baking
  3. As your pie crust(s) is blind baking, add halved pecans to a saucepan and toast lightly over low heat for 1-2 minutes. Then add enough maple syrup to coat all pecans – as previously mentioned, I eyeballed this. Stir for an additional 3-4 minutes, then add vanilla and salt. Give it one last stir and turn off the heat.
  4. We’re now ready to fully assemble our pies!
  5. Pull your pie filling out of the fridge and evenly divide mixture between your two pie dishes. Spoon your candied pecans over the pie filling until both pies are fully covered
  6. Before baking, make your egg wash by whisking together your egg and water and brush the edges of your pie crust with the mixture
    • This adds a nice shine to the pie crust
  7. Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges of the pie crust are golden brown
  8. Serve at room temperature with whipped cream (optional)

Pumpkin Mousse

The Holidays are officially upon us, and I for one am pumped. We kicked off the season with our annual Friendsgiving this past weekend. It was filled with some of my favorite people, LOTS and LOTS of food, and plenty of wine to go around.

I’ll be sharing some of my favorite recipes from the night over the next week or so in preparations for Thanksgiving. Starting with this pumpkin mousse.

7527029808_img_3728

So, some fun facts about me. I have a massive sweet tooth, but also am pretty health conscious and try to really limit the amount of sugar in my diet.

Normally if I’m going to eat a dessert, I’m going to eat a dessert with all the butter and sugar and goodness it has to offer, but entering the holiday season I know we’re going to be a bit overindulgent more frequently than usual so when I was making the menu for Friendsgiving, I tried to take a healthier approach to dessert.

This pumpkin mousse gets it sweetness from maple syrup, not refined sugar, and is…wait for it….vegan (gasp!)

This lightened up dessert still packs a punch on flavor from the homemade pumpkin butter, but could also totally be eaten for breakfast in good conscience.

7529115392_img_37151

Pumpkin Mousse

YIELD: 8-9 Servings

PREP TIME: 5-10 Minutes

COOK TIME: 20 Minutes

TOTAL TIME: 2-3.5 Hours (includes chilling)

INGREDIENTS

Pumpkin Butter:

  • 1 Can (15 ounce) pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 cup real maple syrup, plus more if needed to sweeten
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 Teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Mouse:

  • 1 1/2 Cups pumpkin butter
  • 3 1/4 Cups almond milk
  • 8 Tablespoons chia seeds

DIRECTIONS

To Make the Pumpkin Butter:

  1. In a medium sauce pan, combine all ingredients and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat slightly and cook, stirring frequently until the mixture thickens a bit, but is still spreadable (about 20 minutes).
  2. Taste, add more maple syrup if you desire a sweeter pumpkin butter
  3. Set aside to cool, while you gather your other ingredients for the mousse*
    • If making in advance, transfer to a glass jar(s) and store in the refrigerator for up to a month

To Make the Pumpkin Mousse:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk to combine pumpkin butter, almond milk, and chia seeds. Refrigerate until thick and pudding-like, about 2 to 3 hours or overnight if you’re making the day before
  2. Next pour the mixture into a high-speed blender (I used a Vitamix) and blend until a smooth mousse like texture is achieved
  3. Transfer to individual serving bowls and chill in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve
  4. Optional: Top with homemade whipped cream (or coconut cream to keep it vegan) and pepita seeds

Happy Birthday, Lola! GF Dog Cakes

My little Lolita is NINE…where has the time gone!? I got Lola when I was a 19 year old, sophomore in college (Crazy, I know), and she has kept us on our toes ever since. We like to joke that Lola is me in dog form (v high strung and into her routine), and Couper is Sean in dog form (chill AF).

I kind of live for their birthdays. I make them a special treat and force them to pose with said treat until I can get my shot. They’re not huge fans, but I need to make memories!

LRM_EXPORT_101127828120767_20181006_123448732

This year, I made Lola mini peanut butter and oatmeal cakes, inspired by A Cozy Kitchen

LRM_EXPORT_102008583644441_20181006_124929487

These treats were such a hit with both dogs, even with Lola being a bit of a fusspot.

LRM_EXPORT_101124038116088_20181006_123444941

They were also very quick to pull together. You bake the cake as a sheet cake and then cut out little rounds. I made a bunch of teeeeeny tiny ones for the pups to taste test, but you could probably make about 4 tiered cakes if cutting them all a uniform size.

GF Dog Cakes

YIELD: 4 Servings

PREP TIME: 10 Minutes

COOK TIME: 14 – 16 Minutes

TOTAL TIME: 25 – 30 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

Cake:

  • 1 Cup Oat Flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
  • 1 Cup Almond Flour
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/2 Cup Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
  • 1/4 Cup Honey
  • 3 Tablespoons Melted Coconut Oil
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • Coconut oil cooking spray for baking sheet

Icing:

  • 1/2 Cup Plain Greet Yogurt
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey

DIRECTIONS

Cake:

  • Pre-heat oven to 325°
  • Line a 13×18 inch baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with coconut oil cooking spray
  • Combine oat flour, almond flour, and baking soda in a medium sized bowl
  • Add melted coconut oil,  peanut butter, honey, eggs, and water to the same bowl.
  • Whisk until all ingredients are well combined
    • Note: melt coconut oil in a bowl, and then add honey and peanut butter before combining. The coconut oil keeps the honey and peanut butter from sticking
  • Pour batter onto your parchment lined baking sheet and use a spatula to spread into an even layer.
    • I like to spray it with the coconut oil cooking spray to keep the batter from sticking
  • Transfer to the oven and bake for 14-16 minutes. Cake should be a light golden brown
  • While your cake is cooking, warm 1 tablespoon of honey and combine with 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt (that’s it!)
  • Assembly: Once your cake has cooled, use a 4-inch round cookie cutter to stamp out small cakes and start stacking! I did a mix of two and three tiered cakes with a icing in the middle of each layer, but you can stack to your hearts content. Insert a candle and get the party started!
    • Optional: Top with some chopped almonds