Lemon Basil Pesto over Cavatappi & Broccoli

The last days of summer are simmering down up here but it is still deliciously warm outside... And we are still reaping the benefits of our garden as well as Jersey's best produce. We are the Garden State!!! Along with the gorgeous basil from our garden (pop-in-law's green thumb!) we have delicious farmer's market lemons... And for our side salad, a gigantic cucumber from Aunt-in-law's garden! (the green thumb runneth in that family!!! Her eggplants were humongous too! YUM! And fresh, Jershey tomatoes from pop-in-law's (our) garden. 

While hubby grilled some chicken outside, I made this easy, cool & refreshing pasta that can be served hot, warm, room temp OR cold! DeLish.

<3 Lishie

Lemon Basil Pesto over Cavatappi & Broccoli

• 1/3 c  pine nuts
• 2 c  fresh basil leaves
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled 
• S & P
• 1/2 c grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
• 1/2c  good, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 lemon, zest & juice
• 1 lb Cavatappi pasta
• 1 head of broccoli florets

Toss the first 5 ingredients into the food processor. Process! As the ingredients combine... drizzle in the olive oil. It is done when it is the consistency you prefer... Scoop it out & fold in the lemon zest & juice.

Meanwhile cook the pasta al dente... The last 2 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli into the boiling pot with the pasta. Drain all & combine with the pesto & serve. ENJOY!

Basketball Cuppies (Chocolate chip caramel)

My preschooler’s friend had his 5^th birthday party on Sunday and I wanted to make cupcakes for him… The party is at the coolest venue space for boys (& girls & moms & dads, lol)- the Brooklyn Nets Practice Facilities. We got to play basketball, etc. with the actual equpment the big guys use- so fun! With a basketball theme, I wanted to slam dunk with basketball cuppies.

The flavoring I went with was chocolate chip cupcakes with caramel frosting… To make the basketball look, I used black licorice lace (an acquired taste I have not acquired, ha ha!)

Mini Vanilla~Mini Chocolate Chip Cupcakes 

with Caramel Frosting

from Gourmet January 2004

1 c a-p flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 c whole milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

6 TBSp unsalted butter, softened

1/2 c plus 1 tablespoon sugar

1 large egg

1/2 c mini chocolate chips

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin cups with liners. 

Whisk together flour, baking powder, & salt in a bowl. Stir together milk & vanilla in a small bowl. 

Reserve a TBSp of this mix & combine with the mini chocolate chips in a small, separate bowl.

Beat together butter & sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 4mins . Add egg & beat until just combined. Reduce speed to low, then add flour and milk mixtures alternately in batches, beginning & ending with flour & mixing until just combined. 

 

Fold in the mini chocolate chips (mixed with the flour to prevent sinkage.)

Divide batter among muffin cups, filling them two-thirds full, & bake until tops are pale golden & a wooden pick or skewer inserted in centers comes out clean, about 15 mins. Invert cupcakes onto a rack & cool completely. 

 

The recipe says it yields 24 mini cupcakes, but I actually got 36 out of it!

Caramel Frosting

 adapted from Redbook

• 1 c (packed)light  brown sugar
• 6 TBAp unsalted butter
• 1/3 c  milk
• 1 pinch  salt
• 1 3/4 c confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

---

In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, milk & salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium & boil 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; cool completely. Stir in confectioners' sugar & vanilla; beat until smooth & thick enough to spread on cupcakes.

Decoration~ Used black licorice lace to make the basketball lines! 

My boys- Gabriel is a future Basketball star!

One Ingredient Banana "Ice Cream"

So who is on Pinterest? :::Raising Hand!!!::: (FOLLOW ME: Lishie) I try to only pin ideas I will use & this was one of those things I had seen in passing from the blog Come Together Kids. I had 5 overly ripe bananas- this heat is terrible on the produce!- & my pre-schooler loves bananas. So, I thought, this is the time to try "banana ice cream". I made it a different way because I just didn't consult the blog post... Anywhichway this is done should have the same results but I wonder if mine would have been more yellow if I'd done it Laura's way?! 

Gabriel was not keen on the texture but he really doesn't like ice cream so I think that has more to do with it... I ended up using the "ice cream" as the base of a smoothie, together with pear juice, vanilla yogurt & strawberries. You may want to try this though if you have a banana AND ice cream loving child it would be a win-win since it is so healthy.

<3 Lishie

One Ingredient Banana "Ice Cream"

• 3-5 Ripe to Overripe Bananas

Blend the the bananas until they are completely smooth. Place in a freezer safe, airtight container. Freeze & serve.

S'Mores Dip

Yep S'Mores Dip. I mean why not? It is like having the outside of a candy apple in a bowl to dip the apple slices into. Yummmmmm... so good. Happy S'Mores Day! Celebrate some way~See these <3 Lishie OPTIONS!

S'Mores Dip- all it is is equal parts melted chocolate (I used semi-sweet chips), graham cracker crumbs & marshmallow fluff. Mix together while the chocolate is just melted, warm, & serve!

Happy S'Mores Day!

How much do I love S'Mores? Oh Let me count the ways....

How much do I love Hershey? Again, let me count the ways....

So much so that 1) my hubby asked me to marry him in Mrs. Hershey's Rose Garden. So sweet. 2) we go to Heshey park once or twice a year) & 3) This year, instead of cake, I opted for a yummy, freshly made S'More for my birthday. Yes, and this one was made with a caramello. Omgoodness. So good.

Well this week is National S'Mores Day on Friday, 8/10/12, in Hershey so I thought it would be great to say enjoy one of my homemade S'mores recipes; they are truly a hit!

Lishie's S'Mores

Lishie's Double Chocolate S'Mores Bars

Lishie's S'Mores Bites

Lishie's Pumpkin S'Mores Bars

<3 Lishie