Pine-Nuts

Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 5 cloves garlic minced 1 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp paprika 2 tsp salt or more to taste 2.25 cups water 1.5 cups rice (I prefer jasmine) Small bunch of cilantro chopped well 1/4 cup roasted pine nuts Instructions Add oil to large pan and saute onion and garlic for a few minutes until onion is soft. Mix in spices and toast until fragrant (1 minute or so) Pour in water and mix well and then add the rice. Simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender and fluffy. Remove from heat and mix in rest of ingredients. Serve with some meat over it like kabobs, lamb, or something Greek! Notes Note: to toast pine nuts, you can do this in a variety of ways. One is simply a small pan with a little oil on the stove. High heat until they start to brown but be careful not to burn. Oven works too or toaster oven, just not efficient since this is a small amount.

Ingredients 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts 2 tbsp lemon juice 6 cloves garlic 1/2 tsp salt Black pepper to taste 2 cups basil leaves 1/4 cup olive oil or a smidge more for a smoother pesto 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, optional Instructions Put items 1-5 in food processor and pulse until well chopped Add basil, item 6, and pulse to combine Drizzle in olive oil, item 7, until combined Do the same with the parmesan Done. Unless you want it smoother, then add a smidge more olive oil and pulse to combine