Pesto and Fritatta

I stayed up way too late reading "The Fault in Our Stars".  The book is set in my hometown, Indianapolis.  It reminded me so much of falling in love with my first boyfriend (who is now my husband)--two precocious kids running around Indy and feeling like no one else could understand what they were feeling.  I would have stopped when Hubs went to bed, but he was watching the A's vs Angels game which went a record 19 innings.  Luckily, I finished reading at the top of the 19th.  It was however 1:30 AM.  The book affected me so much that I stayed up even later  reminiscing about old times with the love of my life.  We were sleep deprived the next day, but it was worth it.  Read the book, people!  But take some tissues with you.

Needless to say, I was dead tired the next day.  I am too old for all nighters.  I needed something easy and nourishing to make for dinner.  i turned to my old standby, pesto.  I know there are a million ways to make pesto out, but truly--you do not need a recipe.  Take a big couple of handfuls of any leafy vegetable;, this time I used basil, spinach and arugula.  Put it in the food processor with a few cloves of garlic, some grated hard cheese,  and any kind of nuts.  Pine nuts are traditional, but the pine nut mouth phenomena has hit me twice and I won't eat them any more because of that.**  I have used walnuts, pecans and almonds in the past.  This time I had pepitas and they work great.  I season with salt and pepper and grind it in the food processor until pulverized.  Pour in olive oil and process until the pesto looks smooth. How much oil?  whatever you want!  More makes it richer, but I've been pretty stingy with with oil and it's still been delicious.  I also use a bit of pasta water to thin the pesto before I toss it in with fusilli.  (or whatever shape you want.  It ends up being so delicious and filling and really only takes as long as it take to boil pasta.  Plus, I make a big batch and make a fritatta the next day.

Whip up 5-8 eggs.  Pour a bit of milk and salt in.  Toss with the leftover pasta with any veggies you have laying around the house and any leftover meats.  Bacon, chicken, roasted peppers, frozen peas.  I could go on and on.  Heat a non stick skillet with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil.  Sprinkle in some grated hard cheese and bread crumbs.  Pour in the pasta mixture and cooked covered on low for until the top looks set.  Then flip it over by sliding it on a plate, using another plate upside down on the top, flip and slide it back into the pan.  Cook until finished.

**For those of you unfamiliar with pine nut mouth.  It's awful.  It makes everything taste awful. Even water.  The worst!
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/03/15/148682058/cause-of-foul-pine-nut-taste-befuddles-scientists