Nova Scotia’s Nutrition Coach: A Cool Rainy June Pesto

Edie Shaw-Ewald is a Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer, and a regular contributor to the Bedford Beacon. She coaches clients to use real and natural foods to achieve their healthiest body and mind.

She runs her own business called Nova Scotia’s Nutrition Coach:

Recently I have come to some shocking revelations about myself with the help of my two teenage boys:

I am not as young as I feel in mind or in body. In fact, at 46 years, I am quite old.

I am almost always wrong. I used to have a ‘few clues’, but now I am just wrong…most of the time!

I am not cool…period. I probably never was…and the likelihood of my ever becoming cool is very, very slim.

Now, luckily I understand that this teenage child perception of their parents is as natural as the rain…it is the cutting of the apron strings, the coming of age – they have to let go of me in order to become adults in their own right? Am I right ?

My sons are sweet, healthy and good…handsome, funny and strong and I am happy for them. I see it as a good sign…and besides, I have many, many aprons.

The realization of my ‘uncoolness’ cut deep…so when one of the soccer parents suggested that a group of us, (adults only), go surfing – I thought…YES! Let’s go and shrug off the old fuddy duddy middle- aged carpooling parent roles and do something cool…really cool!

We went to Lawrencetown with Dacanes Surf Camp and had a fantastic time jumping in the waves – laughing at ourselves and cheering one another on as we attempted again and again to stand up on the surfboards to catch some wave. It was an absolute blast! Even though I managed to stay on the board for only 2-3 second at a time, I literally felt my adventurous spirit, that had been dormant deep inside of me, wake up!

When we got home, Mike informs the boys that I was the ‘best’ out there. Wait…did I detect a glimmer of pride in their eyes? Did I note a tone of respect in their voice. Could they possible think that I was cool…for a moment?

It is so important to break out of the Mommy / Daddy role every once in awhile, to cut ourselves loose from our responsibilities and fly free, to show the kids that parents have a life too! That we have hopes and plans for ourselves, as well as them…to show them that we can even be cool sometimes!

To continue this adventure at home I decided to think outside the usual pesto jar of basil and pine nuts. Pesto simply means ‘paste’, so many herbs, greens and nuts can be made into a pesto. Besides, the basil wasn’t doing very well in the garden but lots of chives and spinach were bolting and with garlic, cilantro and arugula from the Hubbard’s Market; our new pesto was created.

Rainy June Pesto

2-3 cups loosely packed arugula, spinach, cilantro, chives or maybe you want to use some parsley, mint or dill?

1-2 cloves garlic

1/2 cup or so of walnuts

1/2 lemon, juiced

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, (optional)

Clean and dry all of the greens

Lightly toast the walnuts in a fry pan on medium heat for a few minutes.

Put all of the greens, garlic, nuts and lemon juice in the food processor – I like it a bit chunky so I just pulse it a few times.

Add the olive oil – but don’t process it too much after adding the oil – because this can make the oil bitter (something to do with polyphenols breaking down with agitation). Add parmesan if using.

Store your pesto in the refrigerator for several days or your freezer for several months (great for the winter!)

Source: http://www.bedfordbeacon.com/nova-scotias-nutrition-coach-a-cool-rainy-june-pesto

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