I think what I’ll miss most when summer has truly ended is the wealth and easy availability of fresh herbs. I used to complain that they were an impractical purchase for a person cooking for one (or occasionally two). But this summer, I have stocked up on different varieties each week, and I’ve found ways to incorporate them in dishes throughout every day.
Basil might be my favorite. It somehow manages to complement every flavor, whether it be cool, ruby fruits like watermelon and strawberries, or warm and wilted with hearty grains. Tonight, I used it in the most classic preparation – a simple pesto.
basil pesto
- ~2 c fresh basil
- 1/4 c pine nuts
- 2 T evoo
- 1 T nutritional yeast
- salt and pepper to taste
Blend all ingredients except oil in food processor. With motor running, drizzle in oil until well combined.
Tonight, I made “noodles” using a couple golden zucchinis, tossed them with the pesto, and served it over spinach. After my first bite, I decided to add a few chopped sundried tomatoes, which were the perfect uniting element.
I’m all for real pasta, but on a late summer evening, this meal could not have been more cool, apt, and refreshing.
What flavor will you miss most when summer ends?
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Oooh I love the idea of the zucchini ‘pasta’! Looks good. I agree that pesto=summer.
http://www.eatlivetravelwrite.com/2009/09/garlic-scape-pesto-la-dorie.html
Wow that looks amazing, what a great recipe. I’ll probably miss ice cream the most when Summer’s gone, I don’t normally eat it in the cold weather, or should I say I don’t eat it as regularly.
That looks like an amazing summer meal, and fresh pesto is so wonderful.
I will certainly miss the freshness of summer fruit, but luckily fall has a lot to offer as well!
fresh, ripe, juicy tomatoes… oh how I will miss thee :/
How do you slice the “noodles”?? I have wanted to try that but I wasn’t sure how to do it…
PS – Still miss you! We all need another get together..
How did you make those wide zucchini noodles? By shaving them?
Chandra and Maya,
To slice the noodles, I just used a vegetable peeler and ran it along the length of the zucchini. They won’t all have a uniform shape, but it does the job!
I love pesto…and I love pasta
I’m going to miss strawberries and summer squash.
Wow! I’m loving the shaved zuke and pesto! Great looking meal.
Going to miss watermelon and cold noodles.
thanks for posting this recipe! looks incredibly delicious.
Mmm love zucchini pasta, and that pesto sounds awesome.
This looks beautiful.
I think I will most miss cantaloupe and watermelon because I didn’t really eat a lot of it this summer!
Definitely going to miss summer fruit and being able to drink my cold smoothies without freezing to death.
The zucchini pasta looks really great!
Oh man, nothing like fresh pesto! This looks SO GOOD! How did you slice that zucchini like that?