Red Basil Pesto with Roasted Cashews

2 loosely packed cups of fresh and rinsed red basil
1/2 cup of Parmesean Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 clove of Garlic
2 tablespons of roasted cashews, crushed

Puree red basil and olive oil in food processor. Add Chopped garlic and grated cheese. At the end, fold in the cashews and enjoy with your favorite pasta.

Crab and Beet Salad with Local Greens
2 large beets
1 pound of jumbo lumb crab meat
Bibb lettuce
Watercress
Radiccio
Dijon mustard
Extra virgin olive oil
Cracked Black Pepper
Lemon zest
Lemon juice
Salt and Pepper
Croutons and fresh palmito, for garnish

Steam whole beets until they are tender, when their jackets slip off. Slice into bite size piece and put to the side until the rest of the salad is prepared.

Make dressing with the olive oil, dijon, lemon zest, juice, salt and pepper.

Pour dressing over local mixed greens and toss in the crabmeat and the beets.

Garnish with croutons and palmito.

Stewed Tomatoes with Olive Oil and Purple Basil

10-15 large tomatoes
1 cup olive oil
1 whole peeled garlic
3-4 stalks of Purple Basil
salt to taste
3T sugar

Blanch tomatoes and place in cold water to remove skin.

Put the tomatoes in a pot and add olive oil and garlic. Bring to boil then simmer until tomatoes are soft. Add Purple Basil and submerge in tomatoes until wilted and black.

Remove Basil stalks and adjust salt.

Very often I add 3T. of sugar at this time to counter balance any tartness the tomatoes may have.

When tomatoes have cooked down and are falling apart they are read to eat.

I find this dish to be delicious served on white rice or plain pasta where you can really taste the freshness of the tomatoes.

Pura Suerte Banana Bread
Watch the video on the right to see how we make banana bread in Costa Rica!!

Cream the following ingredients:
1 stick of softened butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar

Add 2 Eggs

Sift Together:
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt



Add:
1 cup mashed Bananas
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
a couple dashes of cinnamon

Beat til smooth

Bake 30-35 minutes at 350

Cool

Serve on its own or with ice cream. Enjoy!!