Cilantro Pesto

There are many different ways of making cilantro pesto. Some call for hot peppers or cheese and some don't. They are all simple to make and tasty.
This pesto is great served over pasta or with chicken or shrimp.

You will need a food processor or blender.

Ingredients:

2 cups tightly packed Cilantro leaves
1 to 2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 heaping cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tablespoons lime juice(juice of 1 lime)
1/2 cup olive oil

Combine the cilantro, garlic cloves,Parmesan cheese, and lime juice in the container of food processor or blender.
Put on the cover, but leave the chute open or the middle of lid off.
Turn on the food processor and slowly add the olive oil through the opening.
Run the food processor until everything is well incorporated.

Remove to a bowl and serve. Makes 1 to 2 cups cilantro pesto.

Enjoy!

One bunch will give you about 3/4 cup tightly packed cilantro leaves.

It's an Award!

Brownbugz over at a ladybug's life has given me the Kreative blogger award.
This is the first award I have gotten for this blog.

I am supposed to tell 10 things about myself that you probably don't know.
Normally I write these kinds of things on my welcome to me blog.
That's more my random life type of blog and this is just about cooking and baking.

So, to keep in line with this blog, my 10 things will center around food and cooking.

1. The first thing I cooked all by myself was spanish rice. I didn't know I was supposed to turn it down and the bottom scorched. It wasn't good, but my dad ate it without saying a word. I was 11.

2. The only fats/oils I cook with are butter,extra virgin olive oil, grape seed oil, and virgin coconut oil- all organic.

3. I am hit and miss when it comes to decorating cakes. Sometimes it looks great. Other times, it looks like a 2 year old was given a pastry bag.

4. I have a huge cookbook collection. I have to keep some in a big tote because I have nowhere to keep them.

5. When I grill out, I will cook as much of the meal as I can on it. Meat, veggies, bread- everything is better cooked on the grill. Charcoal all the way!

6. If I find a recipe that sounds good, but starts with a mix, I will either modify it or not make it.

7. I love making jams and jellies. They are so easy. And yummy! You can start off with frozen fruit or bottled juice if you need to.

8. I made my own venison summer sausage last Christmas. It tasted good, but was not as nicely shaped as the ones you buy.


9. My favorite pudding is butterscotch and it needs to be warm.

10. I have a marble slab that I roll my pastry out on. My husband bought it for me for Christmas many years ago. I love it.

Now, I am to pass this on to 6 other bloggers.
Without further adieu, here they be:

Domestic Goddess's Recipe Box
Positive Letters...Inspirational Stories
The Pearson Report
Wrinkled Mommy
Seriously-WTH?
life on the muskoka river

Please check all these bloggers out.

Tuna Patty with Parm Sauce

The Alfredo-like cheese sauce is really what makes this dish. I was never a big fan of tuna patties. But I like tuna and I love cheese so this seemed like a good fit.

Ingredients:

TUNA PATTIES-

7 oz canned tuna
3 Tablespoons ground flax seed
1 egg
3 to 4 Tablespoons finely chopped onion
pinch salt
pinch pepper
pinch garlic powder
1 Tablespoon cooking oil 

PARM SAUCE-

1 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon dried basil OR 1 Tablespoon fresh chopped basil
2 teaspoons corn starch OR 1 Tablespoon flour
pinch pepper
pinch salt
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

In a skillet, add the cooking oil and heat it up.
While the oil is heating up, mix all the tuna patty ingredients in a bowl.
Shape into 3 or 4 patties and add to the pan.
Cook for a few minutes on one side. Flip and cook the other side another few minutes.
Turn pan to low and keep warm while you make the parm sauce.
In a small pan, melt the butter.
Add the salt, pepper, and corn starch OR flour.
Stir well until the mixture is bubbly.
Add the milk all at once.
Stir until it starts to get thick and bubbly.
Turn down the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese.
When it is all smooth, stir in the basil.
Serve the tuna patties with the parm sauce.

Flax seed is found in most grocery stores near the flour. Instead of ground, it may be called meal or milled flax seed.
Fine bread crumbs will work. But, the flax seed does a better job of binding.
Plus, it is healthier.

Serves 3-4.

Enjoy!