One Mighty Basil Plant, DIY Pesto & Pinterest Poser Challenge

I've always wanted to be one of those people that could say "I made this from my garden." Problem is, I wasn't blessed with much of a green thumb or the patience to garden.  But I still have daydreams of huge, lush gardens in my backyard like my grandpa had.  Or even a small container garden full of tomatoes that produce many that I start canning and giving them to friends and neighbors. 

Over the years I've tried, and failed. BUT this year I have one plant that I bought at a farmer's market, a basil plant.  It just won't quit on me, even when I forget to water it or I pull off too many leaves to make a tomato basil salad.

Yeah that's right I'm making things from my garden...my garden of one mighty basil plant in a pot.  

I'm making salads and and putting basil on my pizza and in pasta dishes and EVEN MAKING MY OWN PESTO! Whaaaaat? Yeah, my own pesto. Today's Pinterest Poser Challenge* is DIY Pesto. Check it.

*In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,** every week-ish I detail a new project/idea/recipe inspired by Pinterest.
**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.

Based on this pin on Pinterest from Gimme Some Oven, I made my own pesto and THEN made a pesto pasta that the whole family loved.

For the Pesto, here's what you need and what you do:

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup pine nuts
• 3-4 cloves garlic 
• 3 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan ( I used Kraft, nothing too fancy here)
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

• In a food processor or blender, blend together basil, nuts, garlic, and cheese. Pour in oil and then add in salt and pepper. Remember to scrape down the sides in between blending to make sure it's well-blended.

It seriously only took me about seven minutes!  

Then for dinner, I cooked up some gluten free spaghetti noodles and boiled some chicken breast and tossed it all together with the fresh pesto.  Boosh! Dinner!

Totally gluten free and delicious.

I think what this post is all about is not giving up on your dreams.  Sure my garden is just one mighty basil plant in a pot, but I just made part of my dinner with it and now I'm bragging about it on the Internet just like I dreamed when I was a little kid. Who knows? Maybe next year I will have two plants or three!  

How is your summer going so far? Are you an amazing gardener? Got any tips? Any recipes? Have you made anything inspired by Pinterest lately? Let me know in the comments or over on my Facebook page.

Come follow me on Pinterest (click here).

Here are some of the Pinterest projects I've done/made/attempted:

DIY Map Craft- click here

Homemade Chalk Paint- click here

A Flower Crown- click here

The Rainbow Challenge- click here

DIY Trundle Bed- Click here

DIY Artemis Costume- click here

Taking Pictures of Your Kids- click here

Gluten Free Pretzels- click here

Cinnamon Sugar Doughballs- click here

Painted Lockers- click here

Melted Beads- DIY Suncatcher- click here

Tissue Paper Pom Pom Garland-- click here

A Delightfully Simple Birthday Party--click here
Make An Awesome Omelet--click here
Outdoor Lights Inspired by the show Parenthood- click here
Herb Garden with Chalkboard Pots- click here
Backyard Graffiti Art with kids- click here

Happiness Notecards- click here

Gluten Free Rainbow Cake- click here

Fruit Roll-Up Fortune Cookies- click here

Make Your Own Magnets- click here

DIY Painted Clay Necklace- click here

Dixie Cup Lights- click here

DIY Ornaments-click here

Gluten Free Clay- click here

Make Your Own Stamps- click here
Birthday Shirt- click here

Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here

Summer Wish List Chalkboard-click here

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookie Sandwiches-click here

Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here

Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here

Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here
Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click hereThe Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

The Making of An Omelette, A Pinterest Poser Challenge

For this week's Pinterest Poser Challenge,* I'm giving details on how to make an omelette.  This is something I've never done before and happens to be on that completely insane Before I'm 40 Bucket List I made. 

Seriously, what was I thinking when I made that list? lol. Well, I can now check off #8 because I did it--I made an incredibly, okay a sort-of fancy omelette.  (It's one of the only things I can check off and I'm two weeks away from 40 waaaa.) 

*In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,** every week I attempt and detail a new Pinterest challenge (a recipe, a craft, etc.).
**My definition of Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.

My Essential Omelette Ingredients:
4 Eggs
2 Mushrooms
Fresh Spinach
Milk
Mozzarella Cheese
Pepper
Salt
Ground Flaxseed

• I chopped up the mushroom and spinach and set them aside.
• I whisked the eggs in a bowl.
• I dashed the salt and pepper. Put approximately 1/3 cup of Mozz cheese in and added a Tablespoon of  ground flaxseed (because I've heard that's really healthy and good for you, so I put it in almost everything I eat now, but I'm not a doctor so don't trust me).

• I used a pancake griddle to make my omelette.
• I planned on taking pictures, but I wasn't a graceful omelette maker and I made this on my weekend I spent alone and had none of my children around to take a picture.  It was a drippy, disaster mess.  I used two spatulas to stop the egg mixture from running off the side of the griddle.  
• Once I contained the dripage, I sprinkled in the spinach and the mushrooms.
• Somehow, I managed to flip over one side of the eggs to "fold" the omelette.  
• I cooked for a few minutes and flipped it and cooked for a couple minutes longer.
• Then I ate it and it was fabulous!!!

Here's my big takeaway, Don't be afraid of the omelette process, the drippy egg mess or the flipping.  Go for it.  And enjoy.

Have you made anything inspired by or worthy of Pinterest lately? Share it here in the comments or over on my Facebook page.

Outdoor Lights Inspired by the show Parenthood- click here
Herb Garden with Chalboard Pots- click here
Backyard Graffiti Art with kids- click here
Happiness Notecards- click here

Gluten Free Rainbow Cake- click here

Fruit Roll-Up Fortune Cookies- click here

Make Your Own Magnets- click here

DIY Painted Clay Necklace- click here

Dixie Cup Lights- click here

DIY Ornaments-click here

Gluten Free Clay- click here

Make Your Own Stamps- click here
Birthday Shirt- click here
Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here

Summer Wish List Chalkboard-click here

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookie Sandwiches-click here

Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here

Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here
Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here
Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

  Head on over and follow my Pinterest boards-click here!

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and subscribe to my YouTube channel here.

Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge

It's time again for the Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge.  In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.  Or maybe it's not even on Pinterest, maybe it's just something totally new that I'm trying for the first time.  

This past weekend we hosted a small party.  Little Wade turned three years old and we invited my in-laws over to celebrate.

Wade doing a little taste testing before the guests arrived.

I made two appetizers that I had pinned on my Gluten Free Goodness Pinterest board.

These little cups of Mexicana wonderful were the hit of the party.  Individual 7-Layer Dips?  Genius.

Here's the link to the web site with the original recipe.  I didn't really follow the recipe, I made mine from looking at the picture and changed it a bit.  I refuse to use black olives because I hate olives. I used red onion and lettuce on mine which is also different from the original picture.  

I served the 7-Layer Dip as an appetizer. Next time, and you better believe there will be a next time, I will use smaller cups if I can find them.    

This one is easy, but impressive don't you think?  Putting the veggie dip in the peppers looks so cool.  It is also something that I never would have done without seeing a picture of it first.

Thank you Pinterest.
Poser Update:

Last week's Try It Tuesday turned out not to be the disaster I thought it was.  When I looked at my Pinterest-ed address pumpkins, I saw imperfection and mistakes.  But others commented on their cuteness. 

Sure they weren't the just like the picture from Better Homes and Garden on Pinterest and they were by far perfTryect, but they were/are cute.  What's so great about perfect anyway?

So how about it, will you take the Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge? What have you made, painted, cooked, arranged, sewed, Modge-Podged from Pinterest?  Or did you try something new and outrageous?  Share it in the comments or leave the link to a picture of your project or meal or furniture or pumpkins....well you get the idea.  

Oh yeah, and follow my Pinterest boards too.

**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.**