Mama of the Month!

One of my monthly segments is going to be called Mama of the Month- where I highlight a Wisconsin "mama" (no, real children don't have to be involved for you to be a "Mama"- pets, surrogate children, even significant others that act like children make you eligible to be a Mama of the Month) and a fresh specialty this Mama is known for.
This month I chose a personal favorite mama: my mom Jody. I am sharing a recipe that is completely her own creation and completely delish. I might be slightly impartial, but she made this pasta salad at a cookout last night and the bowl was empty almost immediately.


So some fun facts about Jody:
Favorite thing to cook: lemon pudding cake (family secret recipe- don't even dare to ask for it)
Favorite thing to do in Milwaukee: walk by the lake
Favorite Milwaukee restaurant: Transfer
Favorite animal: cougar
Favorite daughter: Rebecca (ha! I KNEW it was true!)

Goat Cheese Pesto Salad
1 cup pesto (recipe below)
1/2 pound Rotelle Pasta
Goat Cheese cut into chunks (as much or as little as you would like)
2 pints cherry tomatoes
1 jar roasted peppers or sun dried tomatoes marinated in olive oil
Olive oil

Basil Pesto
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts
3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 Combine the basil in with the pine nuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. (Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.
2 Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Makes 1 cup.

You can find plenty of fresh basil at your local farmers market now- only $1.00 for a bunch! I recommend investing in an herb keeper- they are an inexpensive way to store fresh herbs in your fridge and help prolong the life of them.
Also, indoor herb gardens are a wonderful way to have fresh herbs all year long and they are a great savings compared to buying prepackaged herbs from the grocery store whenever you need a single sprig of rosemary or three mint leaves.
I hope you enjoy this pasta salad as much as we did and please e-mail me if you are interested in being a featured Mama of the Month!