A Parade of Pestos

By Katie Barreira

The classic Italian pesto is a mixture of fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese and olive oil that is crushed together (pesto is Italian for “pounded”) to make a fresh sauce. Since its inception in Genoa, Italy, pesto has taken many forms; these riffs, known as “pestos” are, along with the original, a fabulously easy, no-cook way to add big flavor to your summer cooking.

Here’s a recipe for my new favorite pesto and a few ideas for fun combinations that you can experiment with, whirring-up at home.

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Easy Ravioli – the Secret is Wonton Wrappers

By Sandy Hu

Here’s a ravioli that even cooking newbies can make because it uses wonton wrappers instead of handmade ravioli dough. You cook up a simple pumpkin-walnut filling, spoon a tablespoon between two layers of wonton wrappers, and, using your fingertip, seal with water.

Cook up your plump pillows of dough in a pot of salted boiling water for two minutes and serve with a brown butter and walnut sauce. It’s that easy.

If you keep a package of wonton wrappers and a bagful of walnuts in your freezer, and a can of pumpkin in your pantry, this dish can be your go-to meal, anytime.

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Going Bananas

By Sandy Hu

Growing up in Hawaii, I know a thing or two about bananas. We ate enough of them as kids. Apple Bananas, Bluefields, Cavendish…so many varieties thrive in tropical climates. And mostly we got them for free, a gift from somebody’s backyard.

We ate bananas in many ways – fried in butter with brown sugar for dessert, suspended in glistening Jell-O for a snack or scattered over cornflakes for breakfast.

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Brown Bag Blues? Try this Quick and Easy Pasta Dish

By Sandy Hu

In these economic times, it makes sense to brown bag your lunch to save money. But packing a sandwich every day can get pretty boring.

For a change of pace, invest 15 minutes to make a simple vegetarian pasta dish. Even if you’re not a vegetarian, do give this healthy and delicious meal a try. Garlic, basil and sun-dried tomatoes add so much flavor, you’ll never miss meat.

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Swiss Chard Stars in this Easy Fettuccine

By David Hu

If you’ve ever wanted to try Swiss chard but weren’t sure what to do with it, this recipe is a good starting point. The chard is easy to cook, the goat cheese adds a nice tang and walnuts add a contrasting crunch. You’ll even learn how to chiffonade!

To get the recipe and shopping list on your smartphone (iPhone, BlackBerry, Android device) or PC, click here.

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