pesto pizza...

i wasn't really sure what we were having for dinner tonight (didn't plan a thing) and while looking thru one of my fresh cookbooks...came across this recipe for 'just like pauline's pesto pizza.  that's what i'll make!!!

i keep a supply of homemade pesto in my freezer...and i ALWAYS have cheese.  good thing i picked up a pizza dough when i ran thru trader joe's at lunchtime today.  

the pizza is SIMPLE!!!  dough.  cheese.  pesto.  *though i did add a touch of red sauce...and a thinly sliced shallot.  it doesn't get much simpler than that...unless you're talking pasta & pesto.  but...that's another one of my 'go-to' meals.  

the most difficult part of this dinner was grating the parmesan cheese.   mrchazman happened to walk into the kitchen when i was telling him how i had to be VERY CAREFUL so i wouldn't lose a knuckle.  he said...you should use the holder for that slicing thing you have.  i'm like...the mandoline?  PERFECT!!!  

the cheese was grated lickety-split  and added to the pesto...along with a bit more olive oil.  *when you prepare pesto for freezing you don't added the cheese.  the pesto is brushed over the hot pizza when it is removed from the oven. 

dinner is served!
dessert? 
vanilla cupcakes & strawberries. 

lentil vegetable soup...

this is only the second time i've cooked lentils...and both times...i've made soup.  the first time...i followed a crock pot recipe that i have...and added meatballs at the end.  this time...i followed the recipe one of my favorite tv personalities...the barefoot contessa.  

honestly...i don't really follow recipes.  i use them as more of a guideline for what i can and cannot get away with.  

french green lentils.

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chopped sweet onion.

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thyme, oregano and marjoram (from my garden).

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carrots and celery.

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low sodium vegetable broth.

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another view of the soup.  

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i grated parmesean cheese over the top after the photo.  the soup was a bit spicy...as i used my flavored olive oil to saute the veggies...and also added red pepper flakes and quite a bit of black pepper and grains of paradise to the pot while cooking.   

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herb focaccia bread.  

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i was so ready to start eating...and grey's anatomy was about to start...that i tore off a piece of the bread and dipped it into my soup before realizing i wanted a photo. 

the recipe makes 8 to 10 services...and because we have other plans for dinner for the next few nights...i stashed individual-sized servings in the freezer for those days when i really don't feel like cooking...but don't want take out.