accompaniments/ recipes/ season/ summer

Summer Garlic Scape Pesto

Summer Garlic Scape Pesto | Well and Full | #vegan #recipe

The idea to start a blog came to me about five years ago, when I was a sophomore in college. The problem was, I didn’t know what I wanted to blog about. At first (and this is embarrassing for me to admit), I wanted to blog about what it was like to be a “lady” in modern times. But then I realized that what I was doing was totally judgy and actually pretty awful, so I nixed that idea. Then, I wanted to have a blog about animal rights, inspired by the adoption of my own rescue pup. But being in college, I didn’t have the time to devote to animal rights activism that would warrant a blog. Then when I graduated from college, I wanted to start a blog about finding work/life balance (which is something I still struggle with!). But I wasn’t really inspired by that topic enough to write about it constantly.

Also, quick sidebar – if you graduate from college and start working full time, you know how hard it is to maintain hobbies / friendships / relationships. You have so much less time than in college. Fewer opportunities to meet people your age. And it’s really a time when you’re forced to figure out what’s important to you. Through this period of self-discovery, I turned to yoga for my body, mind, and soul. It became so important to me that I enrolled in the 200-hr yoga teacher training class (which is still ongoing), which inspired me to start a blog about yoga. However, I was really so much of a “student” (and still am) that I didn’t feel I could confidently write about yoga with any authority. So that blog idea was also eschewed.

But still the need to create, inspire, and share pervaded my thoughts. It was at this time I was transitioning to veganism from dairy-free vegetarianism, and began experimenting with food as I had always been wont to do. Then I found blogs such as Minimalist Baker, Faring Well, and The First Mess, which opened me up to a new world of delicious, vegan possibilities. And from there it just clicked!  I felt like I had suddenly found my passion. Veganism as an ideology embodied everything I had stood for and loved in my entire life – animal rights, delicious food, environmentalism, and compassion (but not necessarily in that order!!).

Summer Garlic Scape Pesto | Well and Full | #vegan #recipeSummer Garlic Scape Pesto | Well and Full | #vegan #recipe

But when I first started Well and Full,  creating the recipes and taking the photos were my main priorities. But what I did not expect was to have such an amazing creative outlet in which to share my ideas. Which, I think is important to mention, is not something that is taken lightly in my life right now. I touched upon it a little in this post, but I’m still struggling with my career choice, and the continual feeling that I don’t have my life “figured out” yet. Having these doubts, along with some health issues I have been experiencing recently, have impacted my life in a painfully negative way. When you’re sick mentally and physically, having doubts about your life and your direction, it’s very hard to keep a positive frame of mind. Sometimes it’s hard to keep going at all. And especially knowing that I have so much to be grateful for – I am infinitely blessed – my mind has created these harmful feelings of guilt that have been extremely destructive in my day-to-day functioning. So I don’t think it is an exaggeration at all to say that Well and Full has helped me keep going.

Sometimes, when you feel like everything is going wrong – you’re continually messing up – you’ll never figure it out – there’s nothing left here for you – even the tiniest little thought can send a ray of sunshine through the seemingly impenetrable clouds. And, knowing that this sunshine is still there – it still exists! – can you start to see the path forward illuminated for you, even for just a few steps. Well and Full has been that tiny ray of light for me. And every single time one of you reach out and share a little bit of your experience, or even send a thoughtful comment, even if it’s just a few words – you are contributing your light and helping me see the way forward. For that, I can’t thank you enough.

Summer Garlic Scape Pesto | Well and Full | #vegan #recipeSummer Garlic Scape Pesto | Well and Full | #vegan #recipe

But the funny thing is, for all of this soul-sharing I’ve done here, I’ve written very little about the actual food I’ve been presenting! This recipe here is a delicious (if I do say so myself) pesto made from garlic scapes, which are actually the stems of the garlic plant. While they do taste garlicky, it’s a very verdant and fresh taste that is a special treat during the summer months! This pesto would work great in a salad or combined with chickpeas to make hummus, but I served them on little slices of ancient grain bread as toasts!

Summer Garlic Scape Pesto | Well and Full | #vegan #recipe

Summer Garlic Scape Pesto | Well and Full | #vegan #recipe

Summer Garlic Scape Pesto

The stems of the garlic plant, garlic scapes have a verdant and fresh garlic flavor. This pesto recipe can be used on toasts, in hummus, or as its own dip!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 6-8 Garlic Scapes
  • 1 Cup Kale packed
  • 1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Juice from 1 Lemon
  • 1/8 Tsp Salt
  • 1/8 Tsp Pepper
  • 1/4 Cup Pistachio Nuts

Instructions
 

  • Prep the garlic scapes by chopping them into pieces a few inches long.
  • Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until pesto is smooth but slightly chunky.
  • This pesto can be used for a variety of applications, but I prefer mine either on whole grain toasts or blended with chickpeas into hummus!

Summer Garlic Scape Pesto | Well and Full | #vegan #recipe

Song of the Day:

Lost in the Light – Bahamas

19 Comments

  • Reply
    Erin @ The Speckled Palate
    July 22, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    Gorgeous words, gorgeous food and gorgeous recipe! I love that your blog is about soul sharing and the food, even if you might not write a ton about the food. I like to think I do the same, and there’s something so beautiful in having an outlet like this.

    Keep up the good work! I’m so excited that I’ve found your blog now and can see all the fun things you’re creating.

    • Reply
      WellAndFull
      July 23, 2015 at 7:54 am

      Thanks Erin :) It is really amazing to have an outlet like this!

  • Reply
    Sophie
    July 23, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    I love garlic scape pesto!! Great idea to make it with pistachios! Yum!!

    • Reply
      WellAndFull
      July 23, 2015 at 12:50 pm

      Thanks Sophie! :)

  • Reply
    Kathryn @ The Scratch Artist
    July 23, 2015 at 2:36 pm

    Beautiful post as usual. It is so interesting to me that we both started our blogs within several months of each other and so much of what you write about is true for me too. Creating and launching my blog has been such a major source of joy in my life. Being creative and having the opportunity to express myself in a public venue has been really good for me. My natural habitat is curled up with a book. Blogging has forced me to be more extroverted and I really like what I am learning about myself.

    I am really happy to hear that this blog has been helping you during an otherwise challenging time. I have definitely been challenged by the question, what am I doing? And I certainly do not think I have my life figured out yet. But, maybe that’s a good thing. The more willing I am to let things unfold naturally the happier I am.

    Garlic scape pesto, YUM!

    • Reply
      WellAndFull
      July 23, 2015 at 3:44 pm

      Hey Kathryn, I just wanted to thank you for your consistently thoughtful responses to my words. It really means a lot to me! And you’re right, we DO have a lot in common – my natural habitat is being curled up with a book too! What sort of genres do you like? I’m a huge fan of thrillers and scifi. But the 143 books on my kindle are from all different genres, and that’s not even counting the 300+ books I have at my house (I may have an addiction).

      • Reply
        Kathryn @ The Scratch Artist
        July 23, 2015 at 7:30 pm

        I have a love affair with “classics” . And by classic I mean books that have stayed around for generations being passed lovingly from grandparent to grandchild. My favorite book of all time is To Kill A Mocking Bird. That being said, I love all genres and I can easily get lost in thrillers and scifi. My only complaint with these two genres is when you can tell the author has a template into which they insert different specifics for each of their books but they basically tell the same story over and over and over and over….

        • Reply
          WellAndFull
          July 24, 2015 at 7:47 am

          That is so true!!! I especially find that with Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series (i.e. Angels & Demons, the da Vinci Code, etc). He obviously has a formula: Robert Langdon + Woman in Science + Law Enforcement Officer who seems to be bad but then really isn’t + Friend who seems to be helping but really isn’t + Big Reveal wherein the Illuminati/Priory of Sion/Masons are taking over the world. Doesn’t stop me from reading them though ;)

  • Reply
    Beth ~ Gneiss Spice
    July 23, 2015 at 4:05 pm

    I think garlic scape pesto is possible one of my favorite discoveries a few summers ago. I’ve never made it with pistachios, though – ingenious! I’m so glad I stumbled on your blog today. Just pinned the crap out of it. :) You have great and colorful photos.

    • Reply
      WellAndFull
      July 23, 2015 at 6:12 pm

      Hey Beth! Thank you so much for stopping by!! :)

  • Reply
    dixya | food, pleasure, and health
    July 24, 2015 at 11:47 am

    i got introduced to you via green and gratitude blog and this is a lovely post about your blog philosophy. i cant wait to read more about your blog and try recipes :)

    • Reply
      WellAndFull
      July 24, 2015 at 12:37 pm

      Thank you so much for your note, Dixya! Glad you stopped by :)

  • Reply
    genevieve @ gratitude & greens
    July 25, 2015 at 11:59 am

    I think your soul sharing is great, and that the food is great, too, even if you haven’t been talking about it very much. Isn’t it amazing when you discover a passion you have? I love moments like those. It’s also incredible that there are so many blogs out there for people who are passionate about similar things- I really enjoy reading those experiences and stories. Blogging brings me so much joy and has connected me with so many cool people, including you! I made the mistake of coming to your blog before eating breakfast and seeing your garlic scape pesto has made me so hungry. So much yes for garlic scape pesto, especially when it’s made with pistachios!

    • Reply
      WellAndFull
      July 25, 2015 at 12:26 pm

      I know, I’m so glad we’ve been able to connect through such an amazing forum!! I think you have one of the most genuine, authentic voices out there and it’s always a joy to read your words. :)

  • Reply
    Zofia @ Kiwi Phase
    July 25, 2015 at 2:07 pm

    I especially like the idea of mixing pesto with chickpeas to make hummus. Also, I’m really happy that you’ve discovered food blogging as I can’t imagine not being able to try your amazing recipes!

    • Reply
      WellAndFull
      July 25, 2015 at 2:46 pm

      Aww thanks Zofia!! :)

  • Reply
    42 Out of This World Paleo Dips | Paleo Grubs
    February 6, 2016 at 10:57 am

    […] 8. Summer Garlic Scape Pesto […]

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    42 Out of This World Paleo Dip Recipes | PaleoRecipe24.Com
    February 8, 2016 at 8:58 am

    […] 8. Summer Garlic Scape Pesto […]

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    Summer 2016 Week 2 (June 21) | Zoes Garden
    June 22, 2016 at 9:27 am

    […] before I even unpacked the box. Add to fruit salad or spring rolls. Instead of grilled or in a pesto, the garlic scapes will go into a stir fry (or as a Korean side dish) and then a paella for family […]

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