141.8...Pesto Ricotta Spread

Last night was Dina’s Annual Holiday Party which, by the way, is one of my favorite parties of the year! Everyone brings an appetizer and the spread is always fabulous!

I decided to bring Pesto Ricotta Spread with Crackers. You can make it the day ahead, which worked out perfectly because Sunday was busy!! 

Pesto Ricotta Spread (Serves 8)

Recipe from Phillis Carey

Ingredients:

4 cloves garlic, peeled

2/3 cup fresh basil leaves

1/3 cup fresh Italian parsley leaves

1/3 cup pine nuts

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup ricotta cheese

Basil or parsley sprigs for garnish

Cut up vegetables and/or crackers

Directions:

1. To make the dip, turn on the food processor and drop in the garlic; process until minced. Stop machine and add basil, parsley, pine nuts, Parmesan, salt and pepper. Pulse to chop.

2. Turn the machine on and pour in olive oil; process to form a paste. Add ricotta and pulse to combine. Cover and chill mixture until serving time or up to 24 hours.

3. To serve, garnish dip with basil or parsley sprigs. Surround with cut up vegetables and/or crackers. 

Printable Recipe

Before we get to Dina’s party, let’s go back to Saturday morning. I reheated some Savory Italian Vegetable Bread Pudding for breakfast. It related pretty darn well!

We hung out at home for the morning. I dropped my son off at a play date and picked up Luna Grill for lunch. I must have been so excited about my Greek Salad with Chicken Kabob that I forgot to take a photo of it. 

That night we went to a holiday party at Coasterra for a group my husband belongs to. The view was spectacular and the food was good too! There were a couple of different buffets. I went with the Mexican food one.

Steak taco, fish taco, chips, guacamole and salsa.

Sunday’s breakfast:

We went to the Charger game. It was another depressing loss against the Broncos. I did eat some sushi so all was not lost.

Then it was time for Dina’s Holiday Party!!

Check out the spread:

The fabulous hosts:

 

As if the spread of food wasn’t enough, the dessert table was incredible!! 

My favorite had to be Cathi’s Nutella Raviolis! 

Thank you Dina and Sassan for a FABULOUS night!!!

Breakfast this morning:

I took the kids to school, then went to spin class. I ran some errands and picked up Panera Bread for lunch.

Half tuna sandwich and cup of broccoli cheese soup. The sandwich got a bit squished on the way home.

We took the kids to a Hanukkah Party at the Rancho Santa Fe Inn. Dinner was at Firenze.

It had been SO long since we had been there. I ordered Chicken Piccata, one of my favorite dishes. Yum!!

Are you done with your holiday shopping? Or have you even started? I’m almost done!

Technorati Tags: Chargers, Coasterra, Everyday, Firenze, Luna Grill, Panera Bread, Pesto Ricotta Spread, Phillis Carey, Rancho Santa Fe Inn, Savory Italian Bread Pudding with Artichokes, Roasted Red Peppers and Mushrooms