I got to see my baby this weekend!
Relax – I didn’t become the Virgin Mary on you (and that would be the situation at this point).
Remember with my BFF had her baby? Jackson is now 6 weeks old and SO cute. Big blue eyes, chunky little cheeks… he doesn’t look like a monkey at all!
I took the new parents dinner Friday night and had a great time catching up and hearing all the fun new parent stories.
We had a Whole Foods rotisserie chicken. I love you, WF… but your rotisserie chicken is ALWAYS dry.
I also made some bulgar and pesto to go with it.
Please ignore the terrible picture. This is what happens wthen you eat after the sun goes down.
Clearly I can’t make anything too normal… this pesto contained smoked almonds and avocado!
Who doesn’t love a creamy sauce?
Crisco was nice enough to send me 3 of their olive oils to taste.* I was excited to have the opportunity to use the Extra Virgin variety in this pesto.
It was good – it’s not a $30 bottle of rich, buttery olive oil (oh, how I’m looking forward to Italy!), but it is perfect to mix into items such as this. It blended well and didn’t fight the other flavors.
A few things to think about when making and dip/sauce:
- Add the olive oil in slowly with the processor running – this is the trick to getting the smooth, creamy texture
- Don’t be afraid to taste/adjust the spices – I like to play with different herbs and heat levels (yes, you should half the jalapeno if you don’t like a little kick 🙂 )
- Add things in small amounts – you can always increase flavors, but you can’t take them back!
*I received Crisco’s Olive Oil as part of the FoodBuzz Tastemaker Program; however, all opinions are my own!*
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Smoked Almond-Avocado Pesto
- 1 large bunch basil (~20 leaves)
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 jalapeno, seeded
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/4 C smoked almonds
- Juice from 1/2 lemon
- 2 T Crisco Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- S+P, to taste
Place all ingredients except the olive oil, salt, and pepper in food processor. Blend until just combined.
Slowly add olive oil with processor on low speed. Adjust flavors, salt and pepper as needed.
Use as a dip or a topping on your favorite grain/pasta/salad.
***
My calf feels so much better… except when I was icing my knees tonight it seized up. Weird.
Do you have a favorite herb or spice to add to foods?
Has anyone ever had weird calf pain? Any advice?
Hey girl… that’s funny you got that from Crisco…My sorority sister form college FB’d me and said when she was looking to pass those out -she saw my guest blog on your blog! Obviously, she sent them to you…TOO funny! Such a small world out there eh?
xoxo from Trinidad
That’s awesome! It’s such a small world. 🙂
That’s so exciting that you got to see lil Jackson. Im sure his parents love it when you bring dinner (even if the chicken is dry). I love adding adobo and smoked paprika to almost EVERYTHING. Well I guess not sweets, then cinnamon would have to be the favorite spice 🙂
I’m super stoked for you to go to Italy so I can relive it vicariously through you 😀
I add Emeril’s Essense to a lot of things. I received it from Foodbuzz like two years ago and liked it so much that I kept buying it. I think it’s just a mix of salt, pepper, garlic salt and parprika. Similar to Adobo which I also like.
what a cutie baby! Pesto looks delish… I don’t like the way my pictures turn out at night either. That’s why I post so many breakfast recipes…lol
The hubs loves tasting olive oils and trying new fancy kinds, but to be perfectly honest, I just can’t hardly tell a difference. My oil palate is not refined!
I would just like to point out that the rotisserie chickens from Central Market in Austin are NEVER dry.
Not that I work there or anything.
If I lived there, I’d have visited you for a chicken!
Oh my gosh – TOO adorable!!
Oops – it sent before I was finished! Herbs and spices are definitely something I need to incorporate more. I’m a big cilantro/parsley fan and I love a good red pepper flake.
As for the calf pain, I’m not sure what it could be. Though I did start having some leg pain when I found out about my herniated disc…I hope it’s not that!! My advice is just to get it checked out sooner rather than later (I learned my lesson the hard way about that!)
Yes please! i aw avocado and pesto and I was hooked. I am definitely a big fan of pesto anyways but your addition of the avocado is fantastic! Nicely done my dear.
What a cutie too!
I keep bumping into recipes for walnut pesto this week! Yours looks fantastic and that baby is super cute. I like the combination with the avocado too!!
Ha! Meant Almond pesto! Although I have seen a couple for walnut too… Ahh too many nut pesto’s running through my brain… Just bookmarked your recipe- the avocado sold me!
Love this pesto recipe! Might be tempted to put a dash of smoked salt in there to enhance the smokey flavor though. 🙂
I actually got liquid smoke at the store a day after I made this. Definitely want to try it again with that added. How much of the smoked salt do you add to dips? I am always scared smokey flavored anything will overwhelm.
There are those smoked almonds again! Nom, nom, nom!
I seriously add crushed red pepper to everything! I also love adding cilantro to everything!
Confession: I don’t cook much, so I have no idea about spices. I do love cinnamon, though! 😉
I would never have thought to combine avocado and basil…yum! I always pair avocado with Mexican dishes, which always make me think of cilantro.
i like that you didnt make regular pesto because this version sounds even better!!
Oh that baby is way too sweet!
This looks really good and how sweet of you to take them dinner. I know the new parents so appreciated your kindness!!
You seriously have the best recipes!!! The baby is just too cute :)!
A pesto with a little smokiness from those almonds sounds so good! I must make your recipe, thank you for such a great idea!
what a cute, sweet looking baby!!! That was sweet of you to take them dinner!