My diet is better but my running has gone south. In my last post I mentioned going on a 12 mile run. It turned into a 9.5 mile run. I kind of just fell apart at 8 miles. I took this weekend off from long runs and next weekend will try 12 again (I still got in three short runs over the weekend). Running is such a mind game! I was out of GU on that run and I really underestimated how much I probably needed it. So yesterday I went a little crazy and bought like $50 worth of GU. I think I learn something new every time I attempt a run longer than 7 miles.
Now that I am back into my low calorie/weight loss phase (It’s not really a phase; it’s really a lifestyle I sometimes take breaks from) I made and ate the following pesto over the weekend. It turned out great so I pretty much slathered it on everything throughout the weekend! Looks like I am back into the groove and hopefully it will show tomorrow morning on the scale!
Carrot Pesto Quesadillas
Ingredients:
-2 Tbsp. carrot pesto (see recipe below)
-1 whole wheat tortilla
-1 oz. mozzarella (shredded)
-leaves torn from 1 Brussels Sprout
Smear pesto over ½ of the tortilla. Sprinkle cheese and leaves on top of pesto. Fold tortilla over (in half). Coat a grill pan with cooking spray. Grill quesadilla on medium high heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until cheese is melted and tortilla is crisp. EAT!!!
Carrot Pesto
Ingredients:
-1lb. carrots (peeled and rough chopped, I used baby carrots)
-3.5 oz. pistachios (shelled, roasted, and salted)
-4 oz. Manchego (rough chopped for the processor)
-2 cloves fresh garlic (peeled)
-1 Tbsp. tomato paste
-red pepper flakes (pinch)
-1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
-S & P
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until you reach your desired consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Use in quesadillas, on a sandwich, as a dip, or tossed with your favorite pasta.
pes·to
[ péstō ]
1. basil sauce: a sauce or paste made by crushing together basil leaves, pine nuts, oil, Parmesan cheese, and garlic.
2. flavorful paste: a puréed or finely minced paste of herbs and vegetables, tomatoes, or olives, used as pasta sauce, bread spread, or in cooking
que·sa·dil·la
[ kày sə deeyə ]
- grilled filled tortilla: a tortilla filled with cheese and other ingredients and grilled
I had to make sure I was OK calling this a pesto
quesadilla.
Definitions courtesy of Bing Dictionary.
You might think my carrot pesto is unique, but it’s not. People have whipped up pesto out of just about every edible vegetable imaginable. Here are some cases in point:
I think you get the idea…..
Next time I make this I will cut the recipe in half. I am going to be eating carrot pesto for days! This is OK because it turned out great. But, I get bored easily unless I am eating chocolate and peanut butter. I could probably go for years eating that glorious combination for every meal.
Because of the pistachios and Manchego I figure there is probably ~100 calories in 2 Tbsp. of this pesto. I think I am being ultra-conservative with that number. And it is still way less calories than if I would have added ¼ to ½ cup of olive oil, and I even so get probably 90% of the flavor. With the tortilla, the pesto, the mozzarella, and the Brussels Sprout I bet I was less than 300 calories with one of these quesadillas. More like 280. Last night I threw the quesadilla on top of a tossed green salad and that was dinner.
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