Basil Cashew Pesto

Basil Cashew Pesto

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to find fresh basil at a local gardeners market for a great price. I bought lots so that I could make basil pesto, for the first time ever. It was so easy and it turned out pretty well. Fresh herbs are always magical to work with, but here’s what’s special about basil. A study done in Russia a few decades ago showed that basil alleviates depression. They put a basil plant on the nightstand of people who had been diagnosed with depression and that was enough to alleviate it. I remember reading about that as a teenager. I think it was my first exposure to the concept of aromatherapy. Since then I can’t smell fresh basil without being reminded of that study, and noticing how happy I feel. Making your own basil pesto has the double advantage of that beautiful ‘happy’ aroma and lots of tasty, creamy basil pesto as a result. Read more »

Rice Milk

While you may have come across Rice Dream, the common brand of rice milk found at the supermarket, did you know you can prepare your own rice beverage within the comforts of your own home? Rice milk is a type of grain milk that you may fall in love with once you try. Most of its flavor comes from brown rice that is usually sweetened with sugarcane syrup. When compared to the milk that comes out of a cow it possesses more carbohydrates, but fails as a proper source of calcium and protein. Read more »