Purple Basil Pesto & Tagliatelle Pasta

Purple Basil Pesto is great dish to create for parties. The eye popping color is festive and healthy for you.

Ingredients:
1 cup of purple basil  or  1/2 head of purple cabbage, chopped

2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup Virgin Olive Oil
dash of sea salt
dash of pepper
dash of chili flakes
* dash of fresh garlic if you like
1/4  of Parmesan cheese or vegan cheese
Vegetarian: add steamed or sauteed asparagus * purple cauliflower & fresh mushrooms
 * purple eggplant & shallots * purple broccoli  * purple spinach & shallots
Protein: add fresh grill salmon or grilled shrimp

Variations: in Pesto base:
*1/2 cup  unsalted sunflower seeds
* 1/2 cup fresh unsalted cashews  or  * 1/2 cup pine nuts

Blender:
Add basil, garlic, nuts and ingredients to food processor. Blend and add olive oil until the mixture forms a nice smooth paste.

Cook and drain pasta.
Try different shaped pasta like Farfalle, bow tie pasta to create a party atmosphere.
Bucatini pasta is nice as well.  Add vegetables and your favorite protein.
* gluten free pasta, vegan pasta and fiber pastas are great as well to create a delicious alternative version for your families heath.

Valentines Day: Limoncello Blueberry Pie

Lemoncello Soaked Blueberry Pie is a new twist on this classic favorite. Ready to indulge in a sweet slice of blueberry pie with a hint of lemon? Extraordinary pie for Valentine's day. Serve with a kiss. Dip blueberries in melted chocolate and decorate top of pie.

Pie Dough Ingredients: You can make individual pies for special occasions like Valentine's day!

2 cups all purpose flour    substitute: coconut, almond or gluten free flour
t tsp sea salt
2/3 cup real butter    *healthy alternative applesauce, pureed prunes or bananas
5 tbsp of cold water

Filling:
3/4 Pure cane sugar or white sugar
1/2 all purpose flour
pinch of cinnamon
Lemon zest
6 cups of blueberries soaked 2-3 hours in Limoncello  *over night in refrigerator is ideal)
1/4 cup Limoncello
1 tbsp butter  *healthy alternative applesauce, pureed prunes or bananas

Mix flour in bowl. Knead and add water slowly. Make dough into 2 balls. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate about 1 hour.

Mix topping ingredients in a bowl and spoon into glass pie pan with dough filling. Saving butter to cut slices on top of blueberries in pan. Place pie pan in oven. Cover with foil.

Preheat oven 450 and bake 35-45 minutes at reduced heat 350. Crust should be light golden brown and blueberries should be bubbling. Decorate with real fresh flowers on side of plate and Hersey kiss for special occasions.

Server and enjoy with a cool refreshing class of Limoncello wine spritzer.
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