pesto Archives - Food Charmer

Feel extra lucky (even if you’re not Irish) with this refreshingly decadent mint and chocolate pie, shown above.

Just use Irish Cream coffee creamer flavor instead of the vanilla caramel and you have instant Irish flavor!

Topped with fluffy whipped cream and a sprinkling of cocoa, celebrate St. Patty’s Day (or any day) this year with the delectable chocolately delight shown above!

4. Leprechaun Rainbow Party Punch

This flavorful beverage features a mix of sparkling water and 100% all natural fruit juice topped with a scoop of tropical or berry rainbow sherbet.

5. Big Shamrock Cookie

Celebrate the ‘eatin’ of the green’ on St. Patrick’s Day with the edible shamrock above.

6. St. Patty’s Day “Green Eggs and Ham”

Topped with a delicious pesto spread and sliced prosciutto, this tasty delight adds a flavorful twist to a morning classic.

7. Irish Soda Bread with Raisinets

This sweet version of the traditional Irish favorite above features a taste of chocolate-covered raisins in every bite.

8. St. Patty’s Day Mud Balls

Who said playing in the “mud” wasn’t a good idea? Made from a combination of chocolate cake, chocolate milk and frosting, these St. Patty’s Day delights are dipped in colorful candy sprinkles and shamrocks for added luck – a festive twist kids will love.

September 30 is the last day of California Wine Month so I thought I’d pair one of my favorite Italian sauces with some California white wines made from Italian varietals. And I added a twist to the pesto that I learned from Luce, on a recent trip to Portland.

The Food:

Luce is a very small market and restaurant dedicated to simple Italian cooking in Portland Oregon. Every dish on the menu was so simply made that at first glance, it seems too easy, too sophomoric. But after a bite or two, the flavors this kind of cooking imparts transports you to the traditions of Italy. Bon Appetit called it “bare bones…Italian home cooking at its core.”

The pesto at Luce was made with basil, avocado, almonds, walnuts and garlic. This is pesto in Southern Italy. And it was incredible! The avocado replaces the olive oil, making the dish lighter, full of flavor and oh-so-good for your skin. To make this easy on me to make at home, I used store-bought pesto as a base, placing about half the container of pesto in a bowl, then mixing in one whole ripe avocado and serving it over al dente pasta. A perfect late summer meal.

The Wine:

I wanted to pair this with an Italian varietal made in California, and I found 2 wines that worked perfectly. Arneis from Palmina Wines in Lompoc, CA, has a bright lemony quality, and enough acid to zip along your tongue with the pesto, cutting the oils and balancing the meal perfectly.

Another wine, Bianchetto from Moretti Wines in Los Olivos, CA, is a blend of 3 Italian varietals from different regions: Arneis, Malvasia Bianca and Tocai Friulano. You won’t see this blend in Italy, but it’s lovely flowery nose and fruit and acid balance also really enhanced the dish.