As you all may know, I love to cook with my children. This recipe is the perfect way to start teaching yours. All the steps are simple so it’s easy to get them involved in the process and more importantly they are thrilled to test out their creation.

Pesto is great in the fridge for about 7 days or you can freeze it for quite some time. Use it as a marinade on fish or chicken-it’s not just for pasta! This dish is perfect by itself, but we love to serve it with slices of a grilled NY Strip that has been heavily peppered and salted and flashed grilled for no more than 3 minutes per side on a hot grill. Let it rest for 10 minutes then slice and serve on top of your pesto “green” linguine

Valentine’s Day Green Linguine

Ingredients

  • 2 packets of basil washed and stems pulled off
  • 3 sprigs of fresh mint-wash and pull leaves off
  • 4 cloves of peeled whole garlic
  • 1 heaping handful of pine nuts
  • 1-1.5 cups of freshly grated parm
  • 1 cup of Extra Virgin Olive oil
  • 1 lb of linguine (good quality)
  • 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, washed and cut in half

Instructions

  1. Toast the pine nuts in a frying pan on low for about 7 minutes or when you smell them take them off immediately
  2. Combine the first four ingredients in the Cusinart and let your children take turns adding them.
  3. Use the pulse button on your machine and let the kiddos take turns pulsing the machine. You want to pulse until very well chopped and combined
  4. Add 1-1.5 cups of freshly grated parmesan (IN A PINCH TIP) remember to buy the block parmesan and when you get it home grate it all in the cusinart and put it in a ziploc bag for future use. The taste difference is amazing ! Pulse the mixture again until fine.
  5. Next, have one of your children slowing pour the cup of extra virgin olive oil through the mouth of the Cusinart while another child is holding the button down. You want the consistency to be a nice thick paste. Place in the fridge.
  6. Boil 1 pound of linguine pasta. When the water comes to a boil generously salt it and then add your pasta for the time specified and definitely no longer than 10 minutes.
  7. While your pasta is boiling, set your oven to 400 degrees and let your children help you make some roasted tomatoes to add on to the top of your pasta dish.
  8. Wash and cut in half cherry tomatoes. Have your children place them in a big bowl and add kosher salt and pepper while you mix in a little olive oil. Have your children mix them well and then transfer to a baking/cookie sheet.
  9. Put in the oven and turn the light on. It will entertain them to watch the tomatoes roasting. Make sure they taste a raw tomato so that they can contrast the flavors. The tomatoes roughly take about 10 minutes. Set aside.
  10. Drain your pasta but reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water to incorporate into your dish when putting it all together. Add the drained pasta to your serving bowl and begin adding the pesto mixture a little bit at a time while also adding about half of the pasta water. Mix well and add more pesto mixture until it’s all incorporated.
  11. Add pesto and roasted tomatoes to your taste.

HAPPY V-DAY from our BABES TO YOURS!