Mariooch's Kitchen

Once the lazy, hazy days of summer have come to a close, my neighbor has an abundance of sweet basil growing in her yard. It thrives in a warm, sunny spot. When you have an abundance of basil growing in your garden at the end of summer be sure to make pesto! This version is a different twist on pesto sauce. I make it without pine nuts or walnuts. We have a nut allergy, so to give it a nutty flavor, I use chick peas, and it does the job well! Basil is one of my all time favorite herbs. Add it to your sauces, on top of your pizza, in your pastas, and even your shakes, yes, your shakes (combined with raspberry sorbet)!!!! It is versatile, delicious and not overbearing. It is the main ingredient in this sauce. Also, there are many health benefits to basil like clearing skin blemishes among others and it’s been around for thousands of years!Pesto Sauce

Every once in awhile I will enlist the help of one of my kids with a recipe especially when it comes to something like the ever popular chocolate chip cookie. My daughter, the one who is in middle school, and I worked tirelessly on this recipe to perfect it! She had taken a cooking class and likes to use her newly learned skills to measure, mix and also create. This recipe is truly mouthwatering and the combination of salt and sweet can be tasted in each and every bite.

It can be easily adapted if you have a peanut, or tree nut allergy, just be sure to choose safe chocolate, and always check with the manufacturer to be sure there are no trace amounts of peanuts or tree nuts in the chocolate you choose, it may not be listed. It can be adapted for an egg allergy as well, leave it out and just add some water, you won’t even miss it!!! But, the cookie will be more cake like, but it will still be delicious. My son LOVES these cookies! The coconut in this recipe adds a nice texture to the cookie. By the way, coconut is not a tree nut! I like using semi-sweet chocolate, it’s just a preference. Here is the link to my recipe Chocolate Chip Cookies Enjoy!

Nothing is more comforting on a cold or rainy day, than a large bowl of heartwarming soup. Split Pea & Ham Soup is so easy to make and it is really delicious. Give it a try! It makes a nice dinner if you serve it with crusty Italian bread or a half of sandwich, like a hot Panini. Some of the liquid may cook off, so you could add more chicken stock. I don’t soak my peas overnight, I never think to do that and I am always pressed for time, so I work with them straight from the bag. Let them rinse well in a colander to remove any debris. Pick through the peas and look for any sticks, etc or debris and remove. If you like it really creamy, you could blend half of it, and then add the ham chunks. It’s great for the kids coming home from practice at different times, because you can keep it hot in the pot. Of course, we always try to sit down together to eat, but someone is always hungry and then eats again at dinnertime. Our growing teenagers!!! Check out my recipe for Split Pea & Ham Soup