Nectar & Light:

good morning. as i write this morning, i sit at my dining room table, a steaming cappuccino to my right - the cool, mist of a breeze billowing my sheer curtains about the room as if a dancing to the music of the rainfall. i love rainy mornings. i love the grey that pushes it's way across the sky - an envelope of comfort - and the sound - oh the sound of rain - the incantations of the great mother as she nourishes the earth...

we have had such a lovely, cool summer and more rain than i can remember - as such, we have had a beautiful bounty of certain greens in our garden. handfuls, potfuls - of basil. one of my favorite things to do with basil is make pesto. it is something we love to eat throughout the year and in so many ways... i love, love, love to mix it with mayonnaise and use it as a spread on melts and sandwiches {like the open face egg sandwich above} - add a bit more olive oil to it and toss it with pasta or roll chicken in it, then breadcrumbs and bake it - it is incredibly versatile and versatility works for me right now - so very much.

note* we prefer a very rustic pesto - feel free to use the traditional pine nuts as opposed to the walnuts if you like.

pesto:

~ 4 c. fresh basil leaves {rinsed and patted dry}

~ 1 c. raw walnuts

~ 2 cloves of garlic {if you are sensitive to garlic - adjust accordingly}

~ 1/2 t. salt

~ 1/4 t. pepper

~ 1 c. pecorino

~ 2T. olive oil

add the basil leaves to the food processor and process until finely chopped. add walnuts and process. add remaining ingredients {except olive oil} and process until throughly combined. while the processor is still running pour the olive oil through the opening in the top and continue to mix until combined. taste and ensure the salt/pepper amount is to your liking - adjust accordingly. do remember that if certain flavors are not coming through immediately that they will intensify as the pesto ages. you can keep fresh pesto in an air tight container in your fridge for up to two weeks. you can also freeze it. i recommend doing so in serving portions - about 1/4c each - either in freezer baggies or ice cube trays.

some love to leave you with this weekend:

~ completely smitten with lindsey's new letterpress and gocco print - she discuss the inspiration here and it is available here.

~ i have been prepping my little italy images for something special; having them all in front of me again is inspiring me so much. i have found myself drawn to black and white 1960's italian films like la dolce vita, divorce italian style, 8 1/2 and la notte - i feel as if they will have a major impact on my work over the next year. and of course i had to have a pair of persol's...

~ jen invited me to breakfast on tuesday - it was lovely...

~ spending time with the september issue of vogue, the august issue of marie claire italia and this site...

thank you all so much for the support of my shop this summer. the holiday shop will open mid to late october and will feature a new calendar, note cards {very likely featuring some of the most popular la dolce luce prints} and a few surprises...

we are heading back to boulder for a very quick trip this weekend {more business than pleasure i am afraid} but we will be able to stop by composition in denver and see jen11 before it closes - i am so excited - have a lovely weekend!

xoox~jla

Comments

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I hope you guys have some fun while traveling and enjoy these last bits of summer.

Posted by: Kelly | Thursday, 03 September 2009 at 02:42 PM

You are not only an incredible photographer but you are also an awesome chef! Have a lovely weekend

Posted by: TH | Thursday, 03 September 2009 at 03:47 PM

Have a great trip Jen!

I'm very much looking forward to your new calendars and notecards :-)

Posted by: Carol | Thursday, 03 September 2009 at 03:55 PM

YUM. Excited about the little ltaly project. I was on the marie clair it. site because my sister sent me a link as there was a Tom Ford feature. (I'm in love ha). Beautiful bits of inspiration. :-)

Posted by: Anna | Friday, 04 September 2009 at 03:43 PM

i just want to say that i have fallen in love with your blog! i've started from the beginning of your archives and am slowly working my way up to the present. and i could easily sit here all day basking in the glow of your words and your photography, but i'm trying to make it last! i will definitely be following your lovely blog from now on :)

Posted by: andrea despot | Sunday, 06 September 2009 at 11:40 AM