When I walked out of today’s Counseling and Teaching final exam at 1:45 pm, I had just taken three finals in under 24 hours. No, I’m not kidding. There was some driving, eating, and occasional sleeping during that time.
(Here’s where the crotchety coot voice would say, “Young lady, in my day we had FIVE final exams in the space of five hours. And, we had to milk the cows and bale the hay during the five minute break between exams two and three.” )
I have one more final exam left on Friday, and then NO MORE marathon car sessions until August!! 😀 😀 The dietitian for whom I work lives only half an hour away. Sweet.
When I arrived home yesterday, I was thrilled to see a package outside our apartment for me. Inside was a gorgeous purse that I won in Kristen‘s giveaway!
(I’m not sure what I’m pointing at, but it ain’t the purse.)
The purse was made by Kristen’s boss, Anissa, who started her company Lemonade Road while recovering a traumatic injury. The purse is gorgeous and roomy and – did I mention that red is my favorite color?? Thanks, Anissa and Kristen!
During the last few days, I took walks with Peter during study breaks:
I also took time out to whip up a little treat I like to call:
No One Messes with Triple P! (Protein-Packed Pesto)
(Who knew Terry Tate had pesto on the brain?)
Ingredients:
A buttload of basil leaves, preferably stripped from your prolific Aerogarden
1 garlic clove (trust me, it potent)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I just broke off chunks due to laziness stress from studying)
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1/4 cup good olive oil
1/2 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed well
Place basil leaves, garlic, Parmesan, and pine nuts into food processor. Blend until … blended.
The basil, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan, ready to be DESTROYED (or ENjoyed, as the case may be 😉 ):
While processor is running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until blended. Add beans and blend the heck outta the pesto until it’s as smooth as desired.
Serve on top of your favorite whole grain pasta, shrimp optional.
I tried Triple P and regular pesto side-by-side. The Triple P is thicker, so if you like a thinner sauce, you can thin it out with a little water or broth. Or, you could serve Triple P as a party dip for veggies, chips, whatever. If you serve it as a dip, you may want to leave out the garlic to prevent clouds of dragon breath.
On the side, I threw together a beet and pear salad that my sister C sent to me a while back.
C’s Roasted Beet, Pear, and Feta Salad
Ingredients:
1/3 C. toasted nuts (almonds, walnut, pecan, etc.)
3 large beets – ends trimmed and individually wrapped in foil
2 firm ripe pears
3 C. beet greens or baby greens
1 C. feta or goat cheese (I used goat because that’s what we had in the fridge)
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
salt
pepper
Dressing:
1/4 C olive oil
1/4 C. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tsp honey
2 tsp red wine vinegar or lemon juice
2 tsp grated ginger root
Toast nuts at 325 degrees F for 8 minutes (don’t burn). Or, you could make candied nuts by whipping an egg white until stiff, tossing pecans in the whipped white, tossing the egg-coated nuts in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon, and baking at 300 degrees F for 10 – 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
Roast beets in foil at 400 degrees F for one hour. In the meantime, stir together dressing ingredients. If you have a handy husb like Peter, you can use the red wine vinegar that he aged himself in a 2 liter oak cask.
Peel and cube pears and toss with dressing. Chop the nuts. Once beets are done, let them cool, then peel and slice them. Add to pear and dressing mixture. Toss greens with 2 to 1 ratio of oil and vinegar, and add salt and pepper. Arrange greens in a bowl. Add beets and pears and top with cheese and nuts.
As you can see, I didn’t arrange my beets and pears over greens because I just wasn’t feelin’ it. Even so, this salad would be fabulous with some greens, so give it a try! I liked this dinner so much that I repeated it in a slightly-altered form for the next day’s lunch:
I’m off to go study! Bonnie and Maddie want to have the last word:
The End.
Q: Do you like pesto? AND, have you seen “Terrible” Terry Tate (aka Triple T)?
If you haven’t, watch the clip below:
Hang in there with those finals – and good luck on your last one tomorrow! That’s great that you’ve got a job nearby – somedays I would kill for a shorter commute!
These recipes look amazing. I am a pesto fan, but never thought to add beans. Great idea!
I’m so glad you like the purse!!
That Triple P looks delish! Pesto is my favorite!
Other than 3 in 24 they went well? I don’t think I’ve seen TTT before..pretty funny. Definitely a job I would like 🙂
haha “buttload” of basil – nice!
You crack me up. This post was so funny w/the mystery point and references!
Pesto is good on pizza I think.
Your puppy looks adorable. And you look cute too 🙂
3 Exams in 24 hrs…ah the good ol’ University days. Hang in there Jessie, almost over. I remember the moment I walked out of my last exam I took a deep breath and it immediately felt like a huge rock was lifted off my shoulders. So excited for ya girl!
Your pesto recipe sounds awesome. And I love the thickness too. Everytime I look at it I keep thinking of guacamole…teehee. That video was funny 😀 But I’d have to say, dude is kinda scary. Thanks for sharing. Please keep showing more pics of your dogs. They are too cute!!! I’ve always wanted a Chihuahua but Gary wants a Doberman. Yeah, night and day eh? So maybe we’ll compromise with a medium sized dog. Maybe a Jack Russell. That’s what I wanted after we got our Min Pin too.
Hang in there Jessie – you’re almost at the finish line! *teehee* Milk the cows and bale the hay! 😀
Love the look of your pesto and yes, there’s only one way to do it – with a “buttload of basil leaves” 😉
Btw – I got some stuff for you at my blog. Don’t worry, it’s nothing you have to pass along and blah, blah, blah. All you gotta do is take em, if you want em! And I hope you want em, so maybe I’ll see you soon at my place…
Ugh having that many finals does NOT sound like fun. I know you are rocking them though! And good luck tomorrow (even though you don’t need it).
Your triple P pesto looks way better than regular pesto. Definitely a more hearty pasta sauce! Which is what I’m looking for in a sauce anyway. <3
I like the idea of white beans in pesto. What a great way to add fibre and protein. I absolutely love pesto, I can’t wait until the summer when I have a bunch of fresh backyard basil for pesto making!
oh what a fun purse to have won!
Hilarious video!!! lol
That pesto and salad look so yummy. I will have to make that salad while my Mom is here, her and I love beets, Mr. M not so much.
Good luck no the rest of your exams!
I love pesto but I feel you on the dragon breath…it doesn’t go away! What a great recipe though, and I love beets so I am going to have to try out recipe #2 too. 🙂
Good luck with your finals… I am sure you are getting through them with flying colors. You are a very smart girl, I can tell just by reading your great blog.
Wow, you are going through a crazy exam schedule right now…keep it up, you’re almost there! 🙂
The pesto looks delicious!
That tripple P looks fabulous!! And beet salad is just about the best salad ever :). Especially with goat cheese!
Ooh that pesto looks awesome. I have some kale at home and am going to make kale pesto! mmmm!
I love pesto and yours looks ahh-mazing!
I can remember, not too fondly, those days of finals. I hope you ace them all. The office linebacker…I love those commercials.
My favorite color is red as well, you have impeccable taste.
You should get some serious energy from that plate. I could go for some right now since it’s lunch time.
The dogs are adorable.
Cheers!
You’re almost done, that’s so exciting! I remember having three finals in one day once…it was pretty awful. What am I saying..it was BRUTAL. I’m impressed that you got through it one piece.
Those recipes look great! I love pesto..but can’t tolerate cheese in any form. I might try making it without the cheese…it will taste different but oh well. Still good, I’m sure.
By the way, you look so pretty with your purse. Good luck with the exam tomorrow!
that purse is just too cute!
and your pesto, oh that looks so good! yum!
thanks for your loving kindness on my blog today 🙂
xo
Wow girl, what an intense finals schedule. You must be so relieved to have those behind you!
that is so awesome about your finals! you are almost done-yay!!!! what a relief. super cute purse too-what a great giveaway 🙂
Hahaha I love the “crotchety voice”! And I wish I had an aerogarden!! Your pesto looks fantastic 🙂
Hey Pretty Lady!! 🙂 Hope you’re having a marvelous day today!!
I love PESTO!! My mom makes a bunch of it every summer and it is amazing. Yours looks so unique though, the texture is so intriguing. I’ll have to try this recipe out, yummmmmmmm!!
YAY for being almost done with finals!! 🙂
Love the puppy pics!!!!!!
I really like the green mixing of things
walks are the best break and flip flops are fan tastic
best with the rest (aka the END) of finals!
Katherine
JESSIE!!! YOU’RE BACK!!!! 😀
Congratulations on surviving your concluding finals haul. 3 finals in 24 hours sounds like it should be academically illegal.
Mmm, pesto. I’m in love with basil. My mom bought me a Basil plant for my 20th birthday this past November. Unfortunately, it is no longer alive.
Still, I love basil.
Your green-spread on the bread (not sure if it’s regular pesto or triple P) looks beautiful. It makes me happy and want to sing inside.
🙂 lots of love
Aletheia
Hi, my first time here. Your Triple P looks awesome! All the best for your last paper tomorrow.
3 exams in under 24 hours is a huge accomplishment — congrats! It must feel amazing to be done with them. 🙂 YOur purse is so adorable!
Your triple P looks really amazing. The cannellini beans are there are genius!
Happy Friday!
Cognrats on being almost done!!! That’s a crazy exam schedule…yikes! Definitely don’t miss that part of school. Good luck on your last one today!
And your Triple P looks amazing!! I’ve got a craving for pesto now 🙂
3 finals in a day…ugh! That’s brutal – poor you!
Oh I love that bag – you look so cute! Deep red is my favourite colour – it’s gorgeous – as are her other bags on Etsy. (love Etsy too btw)
I looooooove pesto – I’m hoping I’ll have an abundance of basil this year and can make, and freeze, whacks of it.
Good luck with the studying – hang in there!
Thank you for sharing this with Friday Firsts Jessie! I’ve never made ANY pesto – need to get on that, huh?
Dragon breath…LOL! I love it! I love pesto, too! Garlicy, please! Mmm mmmmm! Yours looks wonderful! Until I made it homemade, I never knew pine nuts were a main ingredient 🙂 Enjoy your weekend, Jessie!
Love the purse, so cute and looks like you could fit a lot of stuff in it!:)