Do you know how certain flavors, tastes or smells can bring you back to a certain place or time in your life? Basil pesto does that for me. It kind of brings me right back to Italy, but only the homemade kind. There's just something about fresh basil blended with parmesan and olive oil. YUM it's so good. I whipped up a batch this morning to use for dinner. Michael and I picked up some salmon on Sunday and I couldn't wait to make it with fresh basil pesto. I've found that my favorite nuts to use in homemade pesto are walnuts. I've tried it with pistachios, pine nuts and even cashews, and walnuts seem to give it my favorite consistency.

Here's what you need: 

• Large handful of fresh basil
• 1/3 cup walnuts
• 2-3 cloves garlic
• S & P to taste
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp plain greek yogurt (added for creaminess factor)
• Small squeeze fresh lemon juice
• Some sort of food processor or powerful blender

Here's what to do: 

• Blend!

All I did for dinner was topped the salmon with pesto and lemon slices and baked for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees! Super simple. Crazy delicious. I served ours with golden zucchini zoodles. Golden zoodles. Golden Doodle? And some roasted brussels sprouts.

Enjoy!

- Rach

Do you have a food that reminds you of a certain place?

Hey guys! How was your Monday? Mine was super busy but went by so fast and I can't believe it is already 9 p.m.! I taught two classes today, a cycle class and a Total Body class, so when I got home tonight I needed a big yummy dinner.

I have been crazy about dill this week and putting it on my salads every day. Tonight I made a dill lemon salmon that was delicious and ridiculously easy!

Ingredients: 

• 1 salmon filet (I use the frozen filets from Costco - easy)
• 1/2 teaspoon each of kosher salt & pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic seasoning (I use Mrs. Dash garlic and herb)
• 2 slices of lemon
• Fresh dill to your taste

Directions:

• Pat salmon dry and place on greased pan
• Sprinkle with kosher salt, pepper and garlic
• Place dill on salmon, as much as you want!
• Place lemon slices on top
• Bake in a 400 degree heated oven, or if you have a toaster oven, place it in the toaster oven and bake on 400 for 15 minutes. Turn your oven or toaster oven to broil for an extra 2-5 minutes
• Enjoy!