Arugula Pesto Cream Sauce with Portobello Mushrooms

My mom and dad recently vacationed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. While there, my mom had an arugula pasta dish with a cream sauce that she absolutely loved. She thought that I might be able to re-create it if she described it to me, so I whipped up a yummy sauce the other night for her! I used a fresh cavatappi pasta, but it was a little too thick in my opinion. I'd suggest using a penne or fettuccini pasta with this sauce! Enjoy! 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup baby arugula leaves
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 oz. pine nuts
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 pint regular cream
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 6 oz. Portobello mushrooms, chopped into small pieces
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Place arugula and garlic cloves in a food processor (or blender), pulse a couple of times. Slowly add the olive oil in an even stream, and process until the mixture begins to emulsify, about 30-40 seconds. Add the pine nuts and Parmesan cheese. Blend for a minute.

In a saucepan, melt the butter on low-medium heat. Add the Portobello mushrooms and sauté until tender. Add the cream and heat over low until it begins to simmer. Strain half of the hot cream into the food processor with the arugula pesto (make sure not to pour the mushrooms in the food processor), and pulse for about 20 seconds. Pour the mixture back into the cream, and simmer for 5 minutes, or until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with the pasta of your choice... fresh pasta is always best! Top your pasta dish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Adapted from a recipe on AllRecipes.com!

Blood Orange Cashew Salad

Ingredients:

• A 5 oz. package of baby arugula
• 1 blood orange, peeled, quartered, and separated
• Sahale Snacks brand "Sing Buri Cashews" nut blend

Dressing:

• 1/8 cup Blood Orange infused olive oil* (or good regular olive oil)
• 1 tbsp. Serrano Honey Balsamic vinegar* (or regular Balsamic vinegar)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Squeeze of 1 lemon wedge
• Sea salt & freshly cracked black pepper

Directions:

Mix all salad ingredients in a pretty bowl, set aside. Mix together dressing ingredients, and toss into salad when ready to serve. Easy!

Note:

*You can purchase these infused olive oils & Balsamics at The Olive Oil Store, Jacksonville, FL.