Sauces

Video: How to Make Pesto

November 30, 2012 By sharib 5 Comments

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Pesto sauce is my family’s favorite new spread!

We now add it to everything from pasta, to eggs, to sandwiches; we’re always looking for more ways of integration.

This summer, we had a similar epiphany with pesto as we did with guacamole: there’s no need to waste money purchasing store-bought containers. It is SO easy to make at home and it tastes unbelievable.

What’s the best part about pesto? There aren’t many ingredients involved and, it freezes well. So, you can do what we did when we learned to make pesto: make an obscene quantity, package it in jars, and freeze it for months on end.

With the holidays right around the corner, homemade pesto also makes a nice thoughtful gift. And, if you want to get a little fancy (or more confident), you can try to make Tomato and Almond Pesto (like we did) which is simply divine.

Don’t get intimidated: you don’t need a bountiful backyard garden to supply the fresh basil. Just head out to your local food market to pick out a fresh handful. You’ll definitely want to get extra so you can make many many batches.

Don’t fret: storing your extra basil is a very easy process if you learn how to do it correctly. While storing fresh basil in the refrigerator isn’t a long-term solution, you can place it in a glass of water, cover it with a plastic bag, and it will keep FRESH for up to a week!

Curious?

Enjoy my latest video on how to make fresh, homemade, super tasty pesto sauce.

I promise, you’ll never go back to the store-bought variety.

Filed Under: Appetizers, Recipes, Sauces Tagged With: basil, Cooking, fresh basil, how to make pesto, how to video, pesto sauce, pesto sauce recipe 5 Comments

Apple Butter

October 8, 2012 By sharib 1 Comment

Yesterday would have been Mom’s 70^th birthday.

While I’ve tried so desperately to celebrate her life through her culinary legacy, it’s inevitable: her absence is always felt. Every day. For the past four years.

This weekend, I kept myself busier than usual so I wouldn’t focus on this unwelcomed anniversary.

I celebrated fall with my family. We pumpkin picked. We painted pumpkins. We carved pumpkins. We made pumpkin seeds. We apple picked.

And now, I’m back in my city apartment, staring down 20 pounds of apples and two pumpkins. Both probably better served for suburbia.

First order of business, start working down the long list of apple-based dishes I’ve earmarked for our new bounty.

Aside from the effort involved peeling, coring and cutting the apples (unless of course you buy apples already prepared), making apple butter is a non-event. Your slow cooker does all the work.

You’ll need 10-11 hours of slow cooking so it’s best to plan to make the butter over night. When you awaken you’ll be greeted to a kitchen wafting with the comforting smells of apples, sugar and spices.

I served the sinfully sweet butter with fresh Challah bread.

My kids also love the spread with peanut butter. Leftovers? It freezes well and, when packaged in Ball jars, makes thoughtful housewarming gifts.

On Mom’s birthday, it’s only fitting for me to create something sweet and comforting that everyone enjoys…

Apple Butter

Ingredients:

3-4 pounds apples; peeled, cored and diced
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cloves

Instructions:

Mix sugar and spices in bowl.
Add sugar mixture to diced apples in slow cooker.
Cook for one hour at high heat, stirring occasionally.
After one hour, reduce heat to low and cook for another 10-11 hours until apple mixture thickens.
Spread is best when served warm. Stores well in freezer.
Enjoy.

Filed Under: Recipes, Sauces Tagged With: apple butter, applet butter recipe, Cooking, fall recipes, slow cooker recipes 1 Comment

Cinnamon Yogurt Fruit Dip

August 8, 2012 By sharib 4 Comments

Today is my birthday.

But, my birthdays will never be the same.

Mom’s phone call used to be the first one I’d receive every year on my birthday.

I miss her cheerful raspy voice on the other end of the line telling me how much she loves me and how proud she is of me and how she can’t believe I’m growing up. I miss that comforting feeling knowing she was there, no matter what.

So I guess birthdays for me are bittersweet. I’m happy to be alive and healthy and raising a family but, I’m always reminded of that huge void in my life.

This year is different though. As I reminisce about the past twelve months, I can crack a smile knowing that I’ve managed to fill part of that deep void with very tangible memories of Mom through her food. I’ve welcomed her back into my kitchen and into our hearts, and I will continue to keep her spirit alive. And, I do sense that Mom is smiling down on me in complete and utter awe that I’m actually COOKING.

I thought I’d celebrate today by sharing one of the simplest recipes in Mom’s collection. It’s perfect for summertime and is as refreshing as it is sweet. I remember enjoying dipping fresh ripe summer fruits (from the farm stand) into the cool, creamy yogurt dip. Now, decades later, I’m finally realizing that the dip I always regarded as so mysteriously decadent is not only easy to make, it only requires three ingredients! How about that?

You can make this dip on a total whim. You only need plain yogurt (I used my favorite GREEK yogurt- CHOBANI); cinnamon and some honey. That’s it. Simply mix the ingredients together, refrigerate your dip, and slice up some of your favorite fruits to go along with it.

There’s nothing better than serving up some fruit (salad) and enhancing the experience with a cool, creamy, yogurt-based dip.

I love the fact that I’m one year older but, in the kitchen, I’ll always feel like a kid. Mom’s kid.