Pea Pesto

This Saturday was my mom's birthday. So, to celebrate, I invited everyone out to my house for a late lunch / early dinner meal. Originally, it was going to be my sister Kristi and myself cooking throughout the late morning to early afternoon, but as life would have it, it did not turn out that way. It was me. The kitchen. Lots of food. And a solitary thought that lingered in the back of my mind- this will be the most people I have ever had to cook for. Oh boy.

It was so much fun! And I managed to make 75% of the meal alone! For 8 people! I was quite happy with the way everything turned out! Completely to the fact that I focused on one thing at a time. I often try to multi-task my cooking, which can be overwhelming, even if I'm just cooking because the husband-elect is over for dinner.

The day was great fun! Everything was wonderful. I am quite regretful that I did not have time to make myself more presentable for the guests! (My hair was thrown back into a clip, I wore the husband-elect's sweatshirt, adorned in potato, old jeans, and no make-up. Oy! Thank goodness it was family and not the Pope! (oh dear, not to sound awful, I would love to cook for the Holy Father, but not in a potato-covered sweatshirt, of course!)


Only a bit of tomfoolery in the kitchen!


The table's ready to go!


Yumm.. dinner's good. Family around the table! And boy, I clearly need a shower!!!


Enough rambling. You're here for the food!

I'm separating the items I made and posting them individually, so make sure you check out each item!

The menu consisted of:
Pea Pesto with crackers
Delicious "Purple and Green" Salad, by my sister!
Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken
Smashed Potatoes
Steamed Broccoli
Southern Style Strawberry Cake, by my sister! - by the way, the cake. Really good. Oh so very good. Check it out!

To begin, I made Giada's pea pesto. It is so delicious. My mother-in-law-to-be (Friday's coming quickly!!) made this last weekend. It made quite the impression on me that I just HAD to have it again!

It is simple, light, and delicious! Giada recommends this being served with crostini, but I served it with an assortment of crackers, since time didn't permit the baking of bread on top of creating every other dish!

Pea Pesto
Courtesy: Giada De Laurentiis
Yields: 4 to 6 servings


Ingredients:
1 package frozen peas, thawed
1 garlic clove
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1/3 cup olive oil

Directions:
1. Pulse together in a food professor the peas, garlic, cheese, salt, and pepper.
2. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil and continue to mix until well combined, 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Season with more salt and pepper, if needed.

Serve and enjoy!