Every summer it is a tradition to visit my family in Minnesota. My grandparents, my mom’s 7 siblings, all their kids and grandkids gather at our lake cabin to enjoy time together on West McDonald Lake.
Family dinners are always one of my favorite things while we are together at the lake. Everyone pitches in to help making the meal and once it’s complete, we eat under the ambience of a radiantly pastel sunset and enjoy the cool evening weather.
Lakeside Dinner: Pesto Pasta with Baked Asparagus and Pesto & Mozzarella Garlic Bread.
Last week when my aunt Sherri came to visit the fam at West McDonald she brought her famous homemade pesto, which is made with her own organic basil. P.S. Sherri grows her herbs in an Earth Box, probably the coolest invention I have ever seen, especially for those people who lack a green thumb like myself.
Try switching up your go-to pasta red sauce with pesto!
You can make a million and one meals with pesto, but for our dinner we tossed it over some pasta and cooked shrimp. Spread on bruschetta, pizza or a sandwich, add it to soups, top it over meats or fish, use as a cracker dip, or if you love it as much as me–eat it by the spoonful.
Love food. Love self. Love life.
Gabs,
I love reading your blog and just have to say that I have been lucky enough to enjoy many tasty treats shared by your Aunt Buffy! They are always delicious and served in one cute way or another! I was also fortunate to experience your Aunt Sherri’s Pesto. In fact, it is so good that while walking out of the cabin to present her famous pesto to the very eager dinner guests, she tripped, fell flat on her face, was bloodied, broken, and bruised! But… the delicious pesto never left her hands! She took one for friends & family and spared the pesto! While the poor dear was being fixed up at the hospital we prayed for the best and what else could we do but enjoy her WONDERFUL dish!
Oh Melissa- I had forgotten you were there for my infamous tumble! When I was serving up the pasta pictured here- carrying the pan down the deck steps I had a brief flashback!
[…] This pesto and shrimp pasta tastes as gourmet as it looks. Plus, the leftovers double in flavor the next day. Any roasted vegetable would pair beautifully with the pasta. I chose asparagus, but squash, tomatoes or yellow zucchini also be complementary. The side of bread is an extra touch, but not essential. A giant pizookie (pizza-cookie), like this one from Serious Eats, is fun to share with a date. […]
[…] Healthiest Foods says it is a good source of vitamin K. Basil is the main ingredient in pesto, but it would also be a great flavor accent in a caprese salad or a chicken stir fry. […]