Nectarine Tartines with Cashew Herb Spread & Sweet Basil-Balsamic Dressing

Summer is finally here and I could not be more excited! This recipe is the perfect appetizer to bring to a summer bbq or for a light sunday brunch. These tartines have a base of fresh bread, covered in a homemade, cashew herb spread. It is topped with fresh nectarine slices, a drizzle of honey balsamic dressing, and fresh chopped basil. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of unsalted cashews
• juice of 1 lemon
• 3 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp of salt
• dash of black pepper
• 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast
• 1 Tbsp of olive oil
• 3 Tbsp of water
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 2 tsp of minced garlic
• 1 tsp of dried dill
• 1/3 cup fresh parsley
• 4 Tbsp honey
• 4 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• Sliced baguette or any kind of bakery bread
• 1-2 nectarines, sliced thin
• fresh basil, chopped (about 1/2 cup-1 cup)

Instructions:

1. First, make the cashew herb spread. In a food processor, purée the cashews, lemon, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, nutritional yeast, olive oil, and water. Once it is smooth and creamy, add the green onions, minced garlic, dried dill and fresh parsley.  Purée until smooth. Tip: do not purée the green onions and parsley completely. There should still be some texture from the herbs.
2. Next, make the sweet balsamic dressing. Combine the honey and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl and whisk it together. Set aside.
3. Toast the slices of baguette. You can toast as many slices as you wish to serve. You are now ready to assemble the bruschetta. Lay out all the pieces of toast on a tray. Spread the cashew herb spread on top of each piece of toast. Then add the sliced nectarines. Next, drizzle the honey balsamic dressing over each bruschetta. Top each one with a sprinkle of fresh chopped basil and cracked black pepper.

Tip: You may have extra cashew herb spread remaining. This works great as a tasty dip for chips!

Benefits of this recipe:

-Cashews protect bone health and promote heart health. They also contain many important proteins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and B vitamins.

-Nectarines are high in antioxidants, promotes better digestion, enhances eye health, stabilizes blood sugar, and improves heart health.

The information on the benefits of the ingredients was researched from http://www.organicfacts.net and http://www.draxe.com

Lentil Bolognese with Spaghetti

This dish is a tasty, vegetarian alternative to a classic beef bolognese sauce. The recipe for this sauce is thick and creamy due to the texture of the red lentils. It is rich in flavor and simply fresh from the savory basil, thyme, and oregano. Enjoy!

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of uncooked red lentils
• 1 8 oz package of spaghetti
• 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil
• 1/2 of a white or yellow onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1/2 tsp of garlic
• 2 1/2 cups of mushrooms, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp of freshly chopped basil
• 1 tsp of dried oregano
• 1 tsp of dried thyme
• salt and pepper
• 2 cups of jarred marinara sauce
• salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Cook the lentils according to the package. Once cooked, set them aside.
2. Simultaneously, cook the spaghetti according to the package. Once cooked, set aside.
3. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes until they become translucent. Then add the garlic, bell pepper, carrots, and mushrooms.
4. Once the vegetables start to get tender, add in the basil, oregano, thyme, and desired amount of salt and pepper.
5. Once the lentils are fully cooked, add them and the marinara sauce to the vegetables. Stir to combine. Put the lid on, turn the heat down to low, and simmer for 12-13 minutes.
6. Serve by placing the spaghetti on the bottom of a bowl with the bolognese layered on top. Add fresh basil on top for garnish.

Benefits of this recipe:

-Mushrooms are a great source of protein, fiber, antioxidants, and high in B vitamins.

-Carrots are very high in Vitamin A, which protects eye health and vision. They are high in antioxidants, can help lower cholesterol, help protect against cancer, improve immunity, boosts skin health, and helps improve brain function.

-Bell peppers are high in antioxidants, they improve eye health, and prevent anemia.

-Lentils can help lower cholesterol, are high in protein, good for digestive health, and beneficial for heart health.

The information on the benefits of the ingredients was researched from http://www.draxe.com