It's pesto pasta time!! Well, for me it's actually bedtime right now as it's already 11 pm and I want to get up super early. I'm writing this on the night before so it's actually Wednesday for me. Big plans for the morning ⇒ GYM. Let's see how that works out, I'll report back via Instagram and/or twitter. Ohh! speaking of Instagram, I started posting on my personal account where I share travel photos so if you want to follow along on my Toronto adventures, you can follow me @veronika.sykorova ;)
I'm on my second week of Toronto and I have few things on my mind to share with you. It's mostly about photography, passion, dream jobs, and getting better.
Ever since I got here, I've been obsessively watching photography related YouTube videos. I've rediscovered my passion for photography and I don't just mean food photography. I LOVE travel photography, especially landscape, nature, cityscape, and lifestyle. That's why I started posting on my second Instagram account again because I desperately want to start taking more photos of things that aren't just food. I still love food photography but I have this drive to shoot nature I just can't ignore. I visited Graffiti Alley the other day which just blew my mind. I snapped a bunch of photos which I'll be sharing on said Instagram account (@veronika.sykorova) in the following days.
They say that the best advice to get better at photography is to just go out and shoot. It seems so ridiculously easy. Just go out. But it's actually a struggle at times when you're in a big city like Toronto. You have to get better at it — just the simple walking around with a big camera part, not even the quality of the photos because, man, are people staring! I'm familiar with the whole don't care about what people think, just do your thing advice but it just takes some getting used to. Huge respect to all the vloggers out there. That's a whole other thing when you're walking around with a camera pointed at your own face. I tried taking pictures of tall skyscraper buildings in the financial district (straight looking up photos) in the middle of the street when it was okay to cross and people were just staring. I'm so sensitive, I know *eye roll*.
Despite that, I love just walking around and finding things to photograph. Finding the great angles, the light, the reflections, the cool graffiti, it's all amazing. Photography is something you have to do every day to get better at it one step at a time. It's a slow process but I'm enjoying the ride. I've been spending hours on Instagram lately and also online looking at people's portfolios staring at other people's amazing work. So many amazing photographers out there, it's crazy! (need to stop, it can be as discouraging as it is inpiring at times) I've also been searching for portfolio themes as I'd like to create a portfolio for myself. I really want to take this beyond 'just a hobby'. I'll let you know when I create the actual website, it's still in beginning stages right now.
Anyone else finds such great joy in taking photos? I think me being so obsessed with creative work right now stems in my desperate need to find a job here (otherwise I'll sleep on the streets and die of hunger sadly) but I don't know what to apply for because quite frankly, I don't want to work for anyone. I don't want another retail job (don't really know what else to apply for) but that's what I'll have to do to keep the money coming while I grow my passion into something more.
I really feel like sometimes this is just a personal diary instead of a blog about food. I keep talking and talking just to get the thoughts out of my mind to make better sense of them.
Thanks for listening to my struggles/updates/rant/whatever is on my mind. See you next Thursday! xo
PS: I realize I haven't talked about this arugula basil pesto pasta of mine I'm sharing today. Well, it's amazing and you should really give it a try, JS. That's all.
📖 Recipe
Arugula Basil Pesto Pasta with Roasted Beets
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 50 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 mins
- Yield: 1 ½ cup pesto 1x
- Category: Pasta
Ingredients
Pesto:
- ¾ cup pine nuts
- 2 cups arugula, tightly packed
- 2 cups basil, tightly packed
- ½ cup spinach, tightly packed
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)
- 4 tbsp freshly lemon juice
- Sea salt, pepper
- ¼ cup olive oil
Roasted Beets:
- 3 beets, diced
- 1 tsp olive or coconut oil
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- Sea salt, pepper
- 2 cups arugula (to add to pasta fresh)
- 4 cups dry pasta (2-4 people)
Instructions
Pesto:
- Start by toasting the pine nuts over medium heat until they start to brown, stirring regularly.
- Add them along with the rest of the ingredients (except the olive oil) into a food processor and process until smooth scraping the sides a few times. While the food processor is running, pour in the olive oil. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.
Roasted Beets:
- Spread the beets on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. In a small bowl mix the oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup parsley, salt, and pepper. Pour the dressing over the beets and toss to coat.
- Roast at 180°C for 40-50 mins tossing once or twice.
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Add a few tablespoon of the pesto, fresh arugula and serve topped with the roasted beets.
kristin mccarthy
This right here is amazing. Pinning for my next dinner party!
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
Thanks Kristin! :)
Andrea
This looks mouthwatering and healthy! Pasta is by far my favorite food and adding beet to this dish gives it a whole new, tasty twist. Thanks for sharing this superb recipe! I'm definitely giving it a try :)
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
Yay! Pasta is definitely the best! Hope you like it :)
April Kitchens
I make basil pesto all the time but never thought to throw arugula in there! I'll have to try that next time.
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
It gives it so much flavor! I love the spiciness of arugula!
Prerna Garg
This is a wonderful recipe and because it's vegan and gluten-free, that makes it guilt-free too! Totally trying it for lunch tomorrow :)
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
Totally! Hope you like it! :)
Amanda
Oh wow! This looks so different to anything I've seen! Thank you for sharing! It looks like something packed full of nutrients, too! Such a great idea for my MealPlan rotation!
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
Yay I'm so glad you like it, Amanda! I think the roasted beets really give it that extra something ;)
Kristine-Bites of Flavor
This is right up my alley! I love all of these flavors and roasted beets are my favorite. Def trying this soon!
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
Let me know how you liked it if you do! :)
Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade
This looks divine. I love making homemade pesto...there's just nothing like it. And now that it's heading to summer, and my basil will be going crazy soon, I'll be doing it a lot more often
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
Yay! That's exciting, there's no better pesto than the homemade kind <3
Jessica
I love when food is so full of color! I love homemade pesto I started growing my own basil so i could make it on the regular.
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
I'm sure you can taste the difference when it's homegrown. Yum!
Nicole | The Professional Mom Project
OMG can I please make this right now! It looks so amazing I love that you added beets. Pinning for sure :) and hi from another Toronto blogger
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
I'm glad you like it and hi that's exciting!! :)
Sandra
I'm making this right now. I cut the beets in very small squares, but it doesn't appear they will be done. I've turned up the oven and I think they will need to cook longer than 50 minutes. Are you sure you got the temperature and time correct?
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
Yes, it should be 180C which is 350F. I do remember they took 50 minutes to cook. If you want them to be really soft, you'll probably need to cook them for longer, I still wanted them to retain some of the crunchiness. They were cooked and soft but not zucchini soft. You're probably done cooking right now, I hope you liked them in the end :)