Gwyneth's GOOP

i have gained incredible respect for gwyneth paltrow, in her acting, and especially the way she has managed to maintain a fairly 'normal' family (her husband is in one of the greatest band's of all time!). but most of all, since reading her blog/website GOOP, i have learnt that she is an avid writer and a lover of the simple things. i envy her writing style, which is showcased in the travel section 'go', but most of all i love her recipes! so easy, healthy and yum!

her recipes from tamra davis are the best, and i'm going to try one today: 'shrek pasta' with homemade pesto! yummm-o-yumm! here is the recipe:

“Shrek Pasta”

SERVES: 4
TIME: 30 minutes

• 1 16-ounce package of spaghetti
• 1 cup toasted pine nuts, a small amount reserved for garnish
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 cups basil leaves, washed, one reserved for garnish
• ½ cup parmesan cheese (optional), plus a small amount reserved for garnish
• ½ cup olive oil
• ½ cup vegetable stock or water
• salt and pepper

Boil water and cook the pasta. Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts in a frying pan with a pinch of salt. When they turn lightly brown put them in a blender with the garlic, basil, parmesan cheese and olive oil. Add a ¼ cup of vegetable stock or water and blend until smooth. You may need to add a bit more stock or water to get the consistency that you like. Add plenty of salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with toasted pine nuts, a basil leaf and parmesan cheese