Taste of Spring

Spinach and Walnut Pesto

1 1/2 cups firmly packed baby spinach

1 tsp dried basil

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese (not the powder stuff)

1/4 cup toasted walnuts (broil in oven or heat in microwave, but don't burn!)

1 lg clove garlic, minced

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup olive oil

Can also add a little lemon juice and pepper, if desired

Play with it and adjust the seasonings to your taste

In a good blender or food processor combine the spinach, basil, Parmesan cheese, walnuts, garlic and salt.  Cover and blend with several on-off turns 'til a paste forms.  Stop the machine several times and scrape down the sides.

With the machine running slowly, gradually add olive oil and blend to the consistency of soft butter.  You can add a little more oil if you want it more liquidy for pasta or whatever.

I usually end up using a bag of fresh spinach and just add in more accordingly.  Taste as you go! 

Enjoy!!

Versatile Mexican Chicken

Creamy Chicken Tacos
I got this from a ward recipe night (Shannon Sorensen) and I really liked it.

Ingredients:

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (boiled and shredded)
1 pkg. cream cheese
1 sm can green chilies
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 fresh tomato, diced
Flour tortillas


Directions:

In a large saucepan add cream cheese, green chilies, and taco seasoning. Let the cream cheese melt and simmer and stir it all together. While that is simmering, shred chicken into the pan then add the diced tomato.

In addition to tacos, you can use this in quesadillas or burittos, on tostadas, or as a creamy dip for chips.

It's fast, easy, and flavorful. I used mine in toasted quesadillas and the kids gobbled it up! I did find that an entire package of taco seasoning was a bit overpowering for one pkg of cream cheese. I added another 1/2 package, but would still probably cut back a bit on the taco seasoning, esp when making for kids.

Let the Party Begin!

Cowboy Caviar

2-3 diced avocados
2-3 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 can shue peg corn (don’t drain)
1 can black eye peas (drain & wash)
1 can black beans (drain & wash)
2-3 diced green onions
cilantro to taste
¼ - ½ bottle fat free zesty Italian dressing (Kraft)
(fat free is better in this recipe)

Mix all together in a bowl. Let sit in refrigerator for a while to let flavors meld.