Spinach-Walnut Pesto

My boys love to make spinach-walnut pesto and after a day of chasing them around and picking up toys over and over again I'm happy to let them help! Since all they have to do is add all of the ingredients into the food processor and zip it's an easy and fun way to get them involved in the kitchen. They don't follow the recipe exactly but it turns out great every time and they are very proud of themselves!

I also can't stop them from sticking their little fingers in the bowl to taste their creation which I don't mind since this pesto packs a lot of healthy antioxidants and omege-3 fatty acids! They pick a new pasta shape each time to make the dish exactly what they want! Today they picked shell pasta. Very simple and kid friendly!

Spinach-Walnut Pesto
4 c. fresh spinach, packed
1/2 c. walnut halves or pieces
1 large garlic clove, roughly chopped
1/2 c. parmesan cheese, shredded
olive oil - approximately 1/4 cup
salt to taste

In a food processor add spinach, walnuts, garlic, and parmesan and pulse until walnuts are roughly chopped.

Turn food processor on and stream in olive oil until pesto comes together to form a paste like consistency. Add salt to taste. Makes approximately one cup of pesto - enough to feed four hungry mouths!

Toss with your favorite pasta - hot out of the colander. Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

Spinach-Walnut Pesto Cream Cheese Spread

Several years ago in Italy I was sitting at a quaint little restaurant with an amazing bowl of basil pesto pasta in front of me. I had never had traditional pesto and was smiling ear to ear when I took the first bite. Needless to say I ate the entire bowl of pasta. Unfortunately, I realized later that I am miserably allergic to basil. Since I loved the dish so much I knew I had to find a way to satisfy my craving for that bowl of pesto!

Instead of basil I use spinach and substitute walnuts for pine nuts to make this pesto. I serve this dish often for my family because spinach and walnuts pack a lot of vitamins and antioxidants. I always have leftover pesto (after we serve it with pasta) and mixed with cream cheese it makes for a delicious morning breakfast treat.

**If you can have orange juice drink a glass with your pesto spread so it's easier for your body to absorb the iron from the spinach!

Spinach-Walnut Pesto Cream Cheese Spread
4 c. Fresh Spinach
1/2 c. Walnut halves or pieces
1 large garlic clove, chopped
1/2 c. Parmesan Cheese finely shredded
Olive Oil approximately 1/4 cup
Salt to taste
4 oz Cream Cheese
Bagel, toast, or bread

In a food processor add spinach, walnuts, garlic (I always give the garlic clove a rough chop before adding so someone doesn't get a large bite of raw garlic!), and parmesan and pulse until walnuts are roughly chopped. I also like using a microplane for the parmesan cheese to get it really finely shredded but you can use a box grater too.

Turn food processor on and stream in olive oil until pesto comes together to form a paste like consistency. Add salt to taste. Makes approximately one cup of pesto.

In a small bowl combine 4 oz cream cheese and 1/4 cup of pesto and mix well. Spread pesto cream cheese on your favorite bagel, toast or bread.