Pesto is for Kids Too

Pesto might sound like it is for pasta lovers who love gourmet but kids really love its salty taste.   If you have kids that won't eat greens try sneaking some pesto into their diet either on pasta or in some eggs.  You can also try making pesto lasagna or pesto pizza, which my kid calls 'Green Pizza' 

So just what is pesto?  It is a sauce made out of fresh basil leaves, cheese (either Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino), pine nuts or walnuts, garlic, olive oil and salt and pepper. Recipes for it vary from cook to cook. The fun thing about pesto is deciding on the proportion with which you want to combine the ingredients. 

Pine nuts are actually the seeds produced by certain varieties of pine tree; they are found on the pine cones, where they are covered by a hard shell. However it is the olive oil that makes pesto so healthy. Olive oil is the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is – freshly pressed from the fruit. You can't beat pesto in terms of nutrition.  The basil in it contains iron, calcium, Vitamin A, dietary fiber, magnesium, Vitamin A and calcium.

The flavenoids in Basil are antioxidants that protect human cells against disease and pollution. Basil also contain antibacterial agents that protect against bacteria so your child is less likely to pick up a bug at school. 

The garlic, also known has Russian penicillin is a potent source of antiviral and antibacterial agents. The cheese in pesto is also a high source of calcium so your kid can grow strong bones and teeth. 

If you really want to make it gourmet then you might want to try to add bacon, mushrooms and finely chopped shallots to the pesto recipe. Another great combination is to add cream cheese and broccoli to the pesto mix. If your kids like red tomato sauce it is also really easy to add tomatoes to a pesto pasta sauce so that they don't know that they are eating anything green at all!

You can also sneak that pesto into your kid's lunchbox.  Pesto and cream cheese sandwiches are delicious.  You can also mix it into an omelette for a different, yet tasty type of breakfast. If you are the ambitious type you can make your own pesto and even involve your kids in the entire exercise by growing basil plants. Your child can help you harvest the basil leaves and mash them with a mortar and pestle. 

Once picked you have to use basil immediately. Basil doesn’t keep well in the fridge. If you must refrigerate it, put the stems of fresh-picked basil in a glass of water, and cover with a plastic bag; it will keep for about a week Raw pine nuts should be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator where they will keep for up to one month.

In the freezer, pine nuts will keep for up to three months. Different types of Parmesan, Mozzarella and Romano cheeses can give your pesto a unique flavor. Don't be afraid to experiment with combinations to find the mix of cheeses that your kids will find irresistible.

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Fix Up Dry Hair and Skin

We are now coming up to that time of year when it is much easier to get dry hair and dry skin. The sun parches our skin and makes it dry and flaky. Chlorine from salt or swimming in the summer turns our hair into straw. We make it worse being busy moms because so often we are caught off guard and out of doors chasing around a kid.

You can use moisturizing creams and sunscreen but sometimes what a tired mom really needs is a trip to the spa. However with no spa affordable or available you can also take a trip to your kitchen to find remedies for our dry hair and skin. I

f dry hair is the problem then you might want to wear an avocado hair mask. As this vegetable has a high protein and fat content it has the ability to moisturize and tame frizzy locks. 

To make your own recipe for this type of leave on hair conditioner all you need is half of a peeled ripe avocado, one egg and two tablespoons of wheat germ oil. If you don't have any wheat germ oil you can substitute olive or castor oil instead. Once you have all of the above ingredients dump them in a big bowl and mash everything together until it is smooth. You can put it in the blender to make it extra smooth if you want. Next you are going to apply this mixture to your head. It is not very drippy if you have made it right. Massage the mixture into your hair starting from the dry ends and working your way up to your scalp.  Once it is all applied cover your head with a plastic bag or shower cap and leave it on for thirty minutes. 

For an extra effective treatment wrap a towel that has been soaked in hot water and then wrung out around your head. After the thirty minutes are done rinse out the mix and then shampoo this mixture out. Doing this cheap and therapeutic treatment for dry and damaged hair at least once a week will help restore your hair to its former glory. 

If your skin is really dry and scaly, especially on your feet, knees and elbows then you can make yourself an easy scrub out of coffee, sugar and vanilla. This not only will smell like you are in a spa but the results will be spectacular because coffee, sugar and vanilla all qualify as being powerful antioxidants and exfoliators. To make this scrub all you need is a quarter cup of olive oil, one teaspoon of  REAL artificial extract, one cup of sugar and a half a cup of freshly ground coffee grinds. If the dry skin on your feet is really rough you can also consider adding some course Kosher salt to the mix. Combine all of the ingredients into a small bowl and then mix it all together until you create a thick paste. Then, while you are in shower, take the mixture in scrub it in circular motions all over your body to soften and moisturize it.

Pay special attention to your elbows and knees and keep it away from your face. Rinse and follow with a gentle shower gel to remove excess residue.  Doing this twice a week will give you smooth and luscious skin. 

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