Tag Archives: Menus

Healthy Herb Garden Fresh Parsley Pesto Pine Nut Pasta Recipe (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan)

Partake of a sinless garden of earthly delights with this recipe for parsley pesto pine nut pasta. These herb garden fresh noodles are guilt-free because they are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and vegan. This dish is so deliciously delectable that Eve herself wouldn’t know it was healthy!

252Leigh


Ingredients:

  • 4 cups fresh Italian flat leaf parsley (or try basil, or even cilantro)
  • ¾ cup pine nuts (+ more for garnish)
  • ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil (adjust for taste)
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic (adjust for taste)
  • â…“ cup vegan parmesan (or regular variety) + extra to serve with
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt (adjust for taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black peppercorns (adjust for taste)
  • 16 ounce package gluten-free brown rice spaghetti style pasta (or any variety)

Instructions:

216Leigh

Gather all of the ingredients, and wash the fresh herbs. Boil the pasta according to its package instructions.

219Leigh

Mince the parsley in a food processor adding olive oil, pine nuts, parmesan. Add the seasonings then taste it. (Adjust the mixture as desired, but keep in mind that the flavor should be really strong at this point because it will be diluted by two cups of pasta.)

237Leigh

Drain the pasta and add the pesto to it. (I do this in the same warm pot I cooked the pasta in.) Cover the pot to keep the pasta warm until serving, and then transfer it to a pretty serving dish. Garnish with additional pine nuts and flower-cut radishes if you like.

265Leigh

I’ve even made this recipe without adding any parmesan at all, and everyone still thought it was wonderful. (This is a great way to indulge in a weeknight meal while cutting a few extra calories.)

264Leigh

Serve the pasta along with a side salad of mesclun greens topped with sliced radishes and pine nuts. Offer parmesan, sea salt, pepper, olive oil and vinegar for each guest to season their own greens with.

082Leigh We served Italian pomegranate soda in lieu of wine for this luncheon.

204Leigh

See how to easily craft your own herb garden napkins rings from printed fabric, get your own free basil seed card printables (invitations, place-cards, food tents, menus, herb markers) and learn how to effortlessly customize a table setting with Washi tape here!

69Leigh

Be sure to check out more of the Fresh Herb Garden Luncheon Tablescape here.

250Leigh

Race you to the herb garden!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

Fresh Herb Garden Luncheon Tablescape Décor Ideas (with Parsley Pesto Pasta Recipe & DIY + Printable Links)

099Leigh

You’re invited to a luncheon at the secret garden where the aroma of fresh herbs will guide you to feast of parsley pesto pasta featured in a vibrant tablescape.

244Leigh

Find your name scrolled upon a seed card herb marker set into an herbaceous culinary plant. Delight in the knowledge that this gift will season many future meals. Remember the seed card imagery from the invitation you previously received.

225Leigh

Feel the warmth of the sun on your face as you take a seat upon an intricately carved wooden chair. Free a cloth napkin from its handcrafted textile ring to place in your lap.

253Leigh

Sip the cool Sparking Italian Pomegranate Soda held within a washi decorated goblet, and notice that the flatware and salad bowl bear the same detail.

264Leigh

Realize the radishes in the mesclun salad are echoed by the motif in the salt and pepper shakers.

232Leigh

Find more of them shaped into flowers sitting perched atop aromatic parsley pesto pasta garnished with extra pine nuts.

224Leigh

Appreciate that the tempting pasta meal has been raised to centerpiece status with its elevation by another inverted salad bowl. Recognize that the fabric square sandwiched between the two bowls matches the checked table topper of pinks, ivory, and sage greens.

082Leigh

As you harvest mounds of mouthwatering pasta into your hand-painted bowl, recognize the plant spray depicted as that of the very same spicy sprout bearing your name. Dust the zesty pasta with a dose of parmesan scooped by a tiny vintage serving spoon.

265Leigh

Taste the scrumptious pasta and refuse to believe that this is a healthy meal free of gluten and dairy. Take a crunchy breadstick contained in a terracotta pot wrapped with the same fabric as the napkin rings. Observe tinier pots propagated with candles sitting encircled with further washi.

252Leigh

Note that every element was placed with regard to creating a pleasurable gathering for you and your friends… and smile, knowing you are cared for.

69Leigh

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. Learn how to recreate elements of this secret herb garden tablescape in your own home here:

250Leigh

Healthy Herb Garden Fresh Parsley Pesto Pine Nut Pasta Recipe (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan)

204Leigh

DIY Herb Garden Fabric Napkin Rings, Free Basil Seed Card Printables (Invitations, Place-cards, Food Tents, Menus, Herb Markers) & How to Customize a Table Setting with Washi Tape

DIY Herb Garden Fabric Napkin Rings Craft, Free Basil Seed Card Printables (Invitations, Place-cards, Food Tents, Menus, Herb Markers) & How to Customize a Table Setting with Washi Tape

253Leigh

Bring the splendor of the herb garden to an indoor tablescape resplendent with free basil seed card printables for invitations, place-cards, food tents, menus, and even herb markers. Craft matching napkin rings with herb printed fabric, and then learn how to effortlessly customize a table setting with washi tape. Practically zero budget is needed to create a splendiferous luncheon with every element detailed… what a splendid way to grow a party!

104Leigh

Let’s begin with crafting the herb garden napkin rings. Find a fabric with a lovely herb motif. Cut it into 6 inch long strips about 1 ⅜ inch wide.

106Leigh

Mark an empty wrapping paper roll (or use a paper tower tube) into 1 inch sections. Cut through these sections to make the ring bases.

107Leigh

Hot glue the fabric strips onto the paper roll sections. (The ends should overlap a little.)

108Leigh

Glue the fabric flaps down to the inside of each roll. (This will make a nice edge that won’t fray in the future.)

110Leigh

Tie on a thin ribbon that coordinates to the darkest color of your fabric, and knot it closed. Trim the loose ends to about an inch long each.

254Leigh

Now your rings are ready to use and are reusable too! Fill them with cloth napkins and place them next to flatware customized with washi tape. It’s a great way to accent your look without having to buy new dishes or utensils, and it’s better for the environment than resorting to the disposable stuff.

197Leigh

Simply cut small inch sections of a coordinating paper tape and wrap onto anything you want to embellish. It won’t leave any residue when you peel it off, so clean-up is a breeze!

225Leigh

Utensils, goblets, and even a salad bowl have been effortlessly washi-ed to wonderful.

214Leigh

I even added washi to tiny terracotta pots filled with candles. The easiest way to make your own is to slip a tea-light candle into one. (We had no burning incident, but if you’re worried about fire… try an flameless LED tea-light instead.)

248Leigh

Now let’s make basil seed card invitations, menus, food tents cards, place-cards, and even herb markers for your tablescape. (Please note that my seed card printables are free for your personal use only.)

200Leigh

Simply right click on a small image below and select print. Choose color and photo settings for the best results. Print them on a thick paper cardstock that won’t curl.

HerbPlacecardsLeighHerbInviteLeighHerbMarkersLeigh

Cut them out by the lines, and fold the pieces that need them into tents.

244Leigh

I taped the flat herb markers to toothpicks and wrote names on them to use as place-cards. The herbs they were stuck into then became lovely take home gifts for the name bearers.

224Leigh

The herb pots were lovely to set around a centerpiece of parsley pesto pine nut pasta elevated by an inverted serving bowl. (A piece of cloth, sandwiched in between, ensured no slippage while serving.)

252Leigh

See the recipe for my Healthy Herb Garden Fresh Parsley Pesto Pine Nut Pasta Recipe (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan) here.

204Leigh

Race you to the craft room!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh