Spring Pea Pesto

I've mentioned my love of cooking shows on multiple occasions.  Not having cable has been easy for the most part, (we gave it up a few months ago because it was so darn expensive!) but I do miss the Food Network.  Luckily we have Hulu Plus and I can watch episodes of The Chew whenever I want.

The other day Mario Batalli made pappardelle with peas and parm.  It looked amazing.  I had some fresh peas that I bought at Trader Joe's so I decided to make my own pea pesto.  It varries a lot from Mario's but I promise, it's delicious!

Ingredients

2 cups fresh shucked peas (substitute with frozen)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (plus more)
1 pound fresh pappardelle
1 cup of fresh basil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling add the peas and cook for 5 minutes.  remove the peas with a slotted spoon and place them in a bowl of ice water to preserve their color and stop the cooking process.  

2. Use the boiling water to cook your pasta.  Follow the instructions to make al dente pappardelle. Remember to salt your water generously.

3. While the pasta is cooking  drain the peas and add them, the basil and parm to a food processor and pulse several times.  Drizzle in about 1/4 cup of olive oil or enough oil to make a smooth pesto sauce.

4. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.  In a large bowl combine the pasta and the pesto add a little pasta water at a time until you get the desired consistency.  Top with more fresh parm and serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Mother'sDay

Oh, Mother's Day...

You are filled with so many blessings. I am blessed beyond belief to have the most amazing mother ever.  I had the best childhood and grew up with so much love.

Now I am a mom.  I have these amazing blessings that I look at and am in awe of some (most) of the time.  I have held these girls in my arms.  Fed them, changed their diapers, watched them grow.  We have gone through ear infections (many, many of them), food allergies, asthma, fevers that were terrifying.  Days last year when I did not know if my oldest had kawasaki disease, leukemia? A diagnosis of hyper IgE Syndrome led to answers.  Physical Therapy, new shoes, new lifestyle. There were sleepless nights, worries, tears.

There were also days when I laughed harder than I thought possible. Sang right along with you in the car at the top of my lungs to Taylor Swift. Cried with pride at your Art Camp Performances. And cheered with joy at your gymnastics performances.

Girls, you have made me stronger, braver and smarter than I knew I could be.  I am so glad I was blessed with the amazing gift of motherhood.  I can't imagine life without you.

And yet, I'm a little sad tonight.  Sad for the baby I expected to bring into this world next.  Sad that I am not nearly six months pregnant, as I would have been if I had not lost my last sweet baby a few months ago.  It's hard to pass this day by, without thinking of the loss that I recently experienced.

Motherhood, you are the bitter-sweet chocolate of life.  And I am so blessed to be taking this journey.

Happy Mother's Day.