kale – coldfishie

BLT with Kale Pesto

If you were smart, you made extra pesto. Guess who’s smart?? THIS GIRL!! There are so many different ways you can use pesto, this just happens to be one of my favorite. I love to cook, but I do have those days when I just want to become one with the couch read magazines, and catch up on movies. When this happens I want to make something not only easy fast, but good. You know that saying ‘keep it simple, stupid’ that’s exactly what I do when I’m super lazy and know that no one is going to deliver food to my couch. You can’t get any simpler than a BLT. Yes a BLT for lunch, dinner, late night snack, and if it were up to the Mr. we would have them for breakfast!

I think people don’t think of making a BLT because it’s usually only ordered at a diner, but it’s actually one of the simplest things to make at home. The hardest thing about making this sandwich is cooking the bacon, and the best part is putting as much bacon you want in your sandwich! You know what I mean. Like when you order something that says bacon, only to find that it has one slice!!! Under your breath you say “cheap as hell with the bacon.” So make as much bacon as you want and load it up!

My version of the BLT using the pesto instead of the traditional mayo gives the sandwich so much more flavor. The kale pesto gives the sandwich a creamy, nutty, salty, taste that you can’t get from mayo. When you add the pesto BLT instantly becomes a gourmet Sandwich! LOL Well at least that’s what like to tell my Husband.

Ingredients:

Kale Pesto– check out the recipe from a previous post.
Bacon- I like using turkey bacon, but use whatever kind you like
Tomatoes- sliced thin
Romaine Lettuce, or Spinach
Bread- any kind will do get fancy, or keep it simple

Kale Pesto Pasta with Parmesan crusted Chicken

In our home this probably is the “go to meal” when we have little time, or just don’t want to make a big production of dinner. We make this almost once a week it’s that good and easy! The texture of this Pesto is so creamy, it will coat your pasta with bright green flecks, and sprinkles of cheese. YUM. This is not one of those sauces that runs right off your pasta leaving you with a bowl of sauce you feel sorry for. This pesto sticks to every nook and cranny, anything that is left in the bowl you will want to sop up with a piece of bread, or if your like, you’ll be using your fingers to wipe it clean! I like to pair this with some type of chicken, today happen to be a parmesan breaded chicken breasts. This is also a recipe where the ingredients can be easily changed; like instead of Kale you can use Spinach, or Basil whichever flavor you prefer. We use Kale because it has several benefits; filled with powerful antioxidants; high in vitamin A, C, and K; high in Iron and Calcium; and is a great detox food. You won’t feel guilty after this meal, you’ll only feel baffled wondering where this has been all your life.

Ingredients:

Kale 1 bunch grated
1 cup of Parmesan cheese
3 cloves of garlic
1/4-cup olive oil
2 oz. of pine nuts
1/4-cup water
Optional:
2 table spoons Ground Flax Seed
1 chicken bouillon cube

Directions:

1. Wash, and trim away stem from Kale leaves
2. Cut Garlic cloves in half
3. Sauté the garlic and kale in pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, about 5 minutes or until the kale turns bright green. Be careful not to burn garlic, the goal is just to soften it so that it’s easier to blend.
4. Place kale, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil in the blender/ food processor.

At this point you can add:

Chicken bouillon cube, I only add this to enhance the flavor
Ground Flax Seed – I add this because not only does it add a nutty flavor, but it is also known as a Super Food.
5. Blend into a smooth consistency; the texture of the Pesto will not be totally smooth because, Kale is very fibrous.
6. Spoon as much as you want of this deliciousness over any pasta you like.

Side note: this is also very delicious when used as a sandwich spread instead of using mayo.

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