Beginner's Luck
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It's not what you're thinking by the way (if you're thinking what I think you're thinking). This time it was in the kitchen. I was cooking and trying out a new recipe called Cashew Pesto. I had bought some fresh basil from the market and it smelled so good I knew it was meant for pesto.
Cashews came to mind and although I wasn't quite sure if cashew pesto existed, I convinced my boyfriend that it did (by now he's used to my "foreign" inventions) and started looking for a real and existing recipe. And guess what? I found one. (Because pesto is usually made with pine nuts.)
So I went ahead and made it and it turned out quite delicious. If my Italian boyfriend says it's good... you know it's gotta be good.
And when I heard him say:
"Stai diventando una brava cuoca."
("You're beginning to be a good cook.")
I knew it was time for a Virginia Slims (though I don't smoke). For those of you who know me well, I think we'd all agree: "You've come a long way, Baby!"
Here's the recipe for two people:
Cashew Pesto
1/2 cup of fresh basil
200 ml olive oil
3 small cloves of fresh garlic
1/4 cup cashews
a pinch of rock salt
1/4 cup of Parmeggian cheese
1/4 cup Pecorino cheese
Best thing is to put it in a robot grinder/mixer. First put in the garlic, on top of that the basil, add the cashews, the salt, the olive oil and then the cheese. Grind and mix.
The texture should not be too thick or too liquidy but a smooth paste. You can add extra basil, garlic and salt depending on your taste. Personally, too much garlic overwhelms the wonderful taste of the basil so I try not to overdo it. Same with the salt. Remember rock salt is saltier than ground salt. So pinch gently and... Enjoy!
Spaghetti:
250 grams
Cook for 5 minutes (don't overcook!)
Add the pesto to the pasta and voila! Buon appetito!
Bonus: Recipe for becoming a good cook
Find an understanding, loving, generously open-minded boyfriend who will allow you to experiment in the kitchen. He gets extra points when he tries everything once and likes it!
Next stop: L'Isola dell'Asinara, Sardinia Read more...
