Monday, March 29, 2010

Kalamata Olive and Roasted Garlic Pesto


The word pesto comes from the Italian word pestare, which means to pound or bruise. It can be anything that you want although in America we think of it as a basil sauce with nuts, cheese and oil. My husband thinks that I am the queen of condiments. I love anything saucy that I can spread on top of something else. I will use this on top of crackers (or my polenta and panelle hybrid), to top baked potatoes, stirred into cooked grains, on soup. This has a lot of uses. Here is what I did.

Kalamata Olive and Roasted Garlic Pesto
Makes about ½ cup or 16 half tablespoon servings

Ingredients:

2 heads steam roasted garlic, cloves only no papery skins
15 kalamata olives, pitted
1 clove fresh garlic, peeled and finely minced
1 tablespoon brined capers, drained
½ teaspoon oregano, dried
1 lemon, zested

Directions:

Process until combined. You still want to see the flecks of green from the capers. It is just as easy to mince this with your chef knife it you don’t want to clean your food processor. Refrigerate in a sealed container until needed.

Nutritional Information:

Amount Per Serving
Calories - 18.4
Calories From Fat (47%) - 8.7

Total Fat - 0.97g
Saturated Fat-  0.01g
Cholesterol - 0mg
Sodium - 72.82mg
Potassium - 24.91mg
Total Carbohydrates - 2.26g
Fiber - 0.2g
Sugar - 0.08g
Protein - 0.39g

Comments:

This is something that I made just for me. My hubby is not a big fan of olives which means more for me. Yay! If you like olives you will enjoy this. I could eat it anytime on almost anything. If you thin it out with a little lemon juice it makes a really tasty salad dressing. It is also good with a few sun dried tomatoes, fresh parsley or fresh thyme added.

Unrelated note:

So today has been a wait and see day with nothing much to report. I hate waiting around for an important phone call that doesn't come. I guess there is always tomorrow.

On a more positive note I found an interesting standing ab workout today at the Women’s Health website. I decided to try the moves just to see how it would work, thinking it didn’t look very tough. Since I was so convinced it was easy I used dumbbells during the moves. Now I should tell you it was a better ab workout than I expected. If you are looking for something different you may want to check it out.

I have a quinoa salad planned for this evening, and for lunch for a few days. With a little luck I will have time to post that tonight. I hope you are all having a wonderful day.

21 comments:

  1. I love olives! YUM. I can't imagine someone not loving them LOL. Definitely adding this to my list. I'm a huge sauce fan myself. Jason and I both are really. Thanks for sharing the abs workout link. I'm always up for new ab workouts!

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  2. Heather,

    I know, how can he not love olives? Boggles the mind doesn't it? Oh well more for me!

    Sauces and condiments make the meal in my opinion. Not surprised you agree with me. ;-)

    I looked at the ab workout and turned up my little nose and said that is too easy. I will do it with dumbbells. Okay, so now I really feel it. Duh! Great workout with dumbbells. My abs still burn. Sometimes I get a bit cocky. LOL!

    talk to you later,
    Alicia

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  3. I love your blog! You had me at olives....

    I have some awards for you over on my blog. Check them out.

    http://www.myveggietable.com/2010/03/award-season.html

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  4. What are you waiting for, dear? I really like the way you write your recipes----book in your future??

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  5. Megan,

    A fair guess but no that isn't it. We have some unpleasant stuff happening. Fingers crossed it will all be okay.

    Thank you for the compliment though. I needed the smile.

    Alicia

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  6. I love capers and olives too. And, I think your husband is right about you and condiments. Until you mentioned it, I hadn't given it much thought, but yeah, you do like 'em! Keep them coming - we like them too.

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  7. blessedmama,

    He is definitely right about it, I admit it. I love sauces and condiments. Oh well, we all have our vices. LOL! I could have a much worse habit. ;-)

    Alicia

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  8. I love condiments too...this sounds good!

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  9. Rose,

    I knew you would be right there with me since we both love our salty and briny things. ;-)

    Alicia

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  10. Oh yes...bring on the salt and the brine!

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  11. Hey, girls, I want some of that salt and brine too! Don't leave me out!

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  12. Thank you for making this! I didn't expect it to be so easy!!!!
    Yay Alicia!

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  13. Rose and Blessed Mama,

    Of course we can all share! ;-)

    Brandi,

    You are very welcome. There are many ways you can take this recipe as you can tell. It is a total salt rush ... . one of my favorite things! LOL.

    Alicia

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  14. This sounds wickedly scrumptious! I've been an olive lover since tykedom, and I too can't imagine anyone not loving them. But olives seem to be one of those "love 'em or hate 'em" foods ~ I've never heard anyone ever say, "Olives? Yeah, they're okay." Oh well, hooray for the olive-haters... that just means more for us!!! :-)

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  15. Lalo,

    I could not have said that better myself. ;-)

    Ali

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  16. Great ab workout link, thanks! Hope your phone call has finally come through, waiting goes by so slowly!

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  17. Olive is one of my favorite ingredient and it makes this pesto really special. Love the color

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  18. I love pesto! Pesto is the Best-O. Oh yeah, I love the TV show Friends too, lol!

    Out here the grocery stores have olive bars, how neat is that? You can buy all kinds of olives by the pound. I will be trying this recipe!

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  19. Janet,

    You are welcome. No call yet. The universe is apparently trying to teach me patience. Big task!

    RV,

    I love olives too. This spread is like cat nip for me. ;-)

    Janelle,

    I had not thought of that in ages. But it did make me smile so thanks for mentioning it.

    Olive bars are one of my favorite things. I love olive of all types. But .... the oil cured wrinkly black ones are particularly good if you olive bar has those you should try them.

    Alicia

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  20. Yum! This looks incredibly yummy! What a fantastic recipe!

    I love olives, sauce and condiments too, please count me in:)

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  21. Oraphan,

    I love things like this! Thanks for letting me know you are with on this too. ;-)

    Alicia

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