Here’s dinner #3 from Part B, Week 3, SSHE – gnocchi with pesto sauce:
This is the 1,200 calorie version. The 2,000 calorie version had quite a bit more. Both came with a little almond and dried pineapple dessert that I didn’t photograph.
I loved this dish. The asparagus was green and crisp and the gnocchi was soft with a ton of basil and parmesan cheese topping. The sauce that came to go on top was creamy and garlicky. Something about creamy dishes really seems decadent, even if its not, so it’s kind of like a treat. Dishes like these make me feel like I’m not being deprived at all.
I think this is one of SSHE’s signature dish because it looks so pretty. It’s featured on the top banner of the homepage of their website and it looks the same in person. It’s also Seattle’s favorite, as she described in her first blog post back in April:
“People ask me about our meals. What is my favorite?
Okay, here it is. Italian Gnocchi with pesto sauce. Gnocchi is like a small dumpling. The sauce is exquisite!
Warm this meal in the microwave approximately two minutes. Fork the gnocchi and dip it in the sauce. Served with fresh asparagus, and a side dish of almonds and dried pineapple. Each taste complements the others. Too wonderful for words!
I have ordered gnocchi in many fine Italian restaurants. I never think it’s as good as ours. Want to know why? Because we experimented in our kitchen until we discovered how to pour a carefully allocated portion of sauce over the gnocchi prior to baking. No one else does this. Viva la difference!”
I have to admit, it really was restaurant quality. Just smaller.
Love the blog, always enjoy reading it. I just made a gnocchi with choux pastry for the first time and it was incredible. Come take a look if you have a chance and let me know what you think. http://cookingquest.wordpress.com
Thanks so much!
Joe
Hi Joe,
I wish I could take credit for the gnocchi, but it just shows up on my doorstep every week as part of the diet meal delivery program I’m doing called Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating.
I did check out your blog and wow does that look good! I don’t know what choux pastry is, but just by the looks of your photos I’m guessing that’s not exactly a “lite” meal so I won’t be eating that anytime soon. Bummer
Rachael
This was soooooooo good! I poured the sauce over the gnocchi and asparagus and heated it all in the microwave. YUM YUM YUM! The sauce got all melt-y. It was up there as one of the best dinners yet. Very satisfying, and I liked the almonds and dried pineapples that came with it.