Janelle Maiocco

Hi.

Welcome to my blog. I live in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle on an Urban Farm (w/ five laying hens and a huge garden). I am a trained chef (w/ a certificate in food preservation), taught at a cooking school & like to share 'kitchen hacks' - culinary tips that save time, money & maximize flavor. If that isn't enough, I also run a food+tech startup called Barn2Door.com - a platform to help everyone easily find & buy food directly from farmers, fishers & ranchers (from CSA's to urban farm eggs to 1/2 a grass-fed cow).

Move over basil: cilantro is the new pesto.

Move over basil: cilantro is the new pesto.

478845975_b0a9926d981.jpg

Wow, deviation is good. I make pesto, and love my basil pesto, but now it will have to share the spotlight with cilantro pesto.

It has a surprising kick, compliments of stacks of cilantro happily blended with garlic and olive oil, and would be perfect added to a quesadilla or pulled pork sandwich. What I want to know is if you make this lively bugger of a pesto: what did you/would you add it to? What entree or dish will get a boost of flavor, a bit of personality, and in some cases a downright pesky attitude based on the addition of this---not so subtle but always welcome---condiment? Or is it a sauce? Shall I put it in a soup? Or mix it in pasta? Today for lunch: I put it on nachos! Cilantro. This pesto recipe came from Harriett's Tomato:

Cilantro Pesto 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced 1 small peeled shallot 1/2 cup raw pine nuts 1 large bunch cilantro, washed 2 T sherry vinegar 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil KS&CP (kosher salt & coarse pepper)

Food process: garlic and shallot, then pine nuts. Blend, then add cilantro and vinegar. When all is mixed well, add in olive oil, salt, pepper. Makes 1 1/4 cups, lasts at least a week in the fridge and my favorite: freezes beautifully in ice cube trays.

More Cilantro:

Kalyn's Kitchen with

Cilantro-Lover's Leftover Chicken Salad

Chicken & Cilantro Bites

from Epicurious

Cilantro & Lime Butter

from AllRecipes

TeamSugar provides

Creamy Tomatillo Cilantro Dressing

blue cheese coleslaw recipe

blue cheese coleslaw recipe

Tzaziki: dip, condiment or chutney?

Tzaziki: dip, condiment or chutney?