required summer reading [and kale chips]

I love reading.
like, I used to get in trouble for staying up too late reading as a kid.
one of my favorite post college activities is reading anything, anytime.

and my kindle makes it so much fun.

thanks to some great friends, I am currently making my way through Harry Potter.
this is my list of everything I want to read (or finish reading) this summer

1. Harry Potter.  I know I am like 10 years too late on this trend, but not having to wait years between books makes it sooooo worth it.
2. Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls.  I have read her book The Glass Castle and loved it.  Hoping for more great storytelling.
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  I have seen this book everywhere and heard a lot of buzz about it.  I am curious to see what it's about.
4. Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis.  I know, I know...I had a strange childhood where I read everything I could get my hands on, but missed Narnia.  It's being fixed, ASAP. 

What are you reading this summer?  What's been good?

Also, I made Kale chips last night, and Sam and I devoured all of them before dinner.  Oops.  It WAS a vegetable

 

 

To have some of this yummy goodness for yourself, just buy a single bunch of a kale.

Then wash and rip it up into bite sized pieces.  Wash in your salad spinner.

Drizzle with olive oil and salt.

Bake in your oven at 400 for 10-15 minutes.

 

Eat all of them. .

Happy Hump day--I'm off to pinterest.

pesto, pesto, pesto!

In the summer, I love pesto. 
Just kidding, I love it year round.
But I especially love it in the summer.
On pasta, fish, sandwhiches, you name it, I'll put pesto on it.

I got this easy pesto recipie out of a magazine last summer and it has been my go to ever since.  It's so easy and quick, and makes great great pesto! It only takes about 10 minutes and you will have extra that you can freeze for later.

what you need:
4 cups packed basil leaves
1 cup grated Parmesan
3/4 cup pine nuts (or walnuts)  Walnuts are much cheaper...that's what I use!
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 tsp kosher salt
3/4 extra virgin olive oil

1. Combine all ingredients except oil in a food processor.  (Or, if you don't have one, like me, a blender will work).

2. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped.

3. With motor running, slowly pour the oil into the feed tube. Or, if you have a blender and no feed tube; just add all the oil to the blender and blend.

Use immediately or freeze!!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway that ends this week!  Get your last entries in!  enter here!