Nourishing Zucchini Capellini

Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your Garden Grow? With Zucchini and Basil, Cherry Tomatoes and Garlic, Edible Flowers and... Ah, yes, my lush Garden is finally here, in full bloom and I am in rapture!  

I love the fact that I can serve mountainous piles of this glorious vegetable and not worry whether my guests have a wheat allergy or if they are counting calories. This is such a great way to get more vegetables on our plates. By simply running Zucchini through a spiralizer you too can produce  this light Angel Hair Pasta or in Italian, Capellini.

Zucchini Capellini with a nut free Basil Pesto

Ingredients:

8 Large Zucchini
4 Cups of Fresh Basil stems removed
2 Cloves of Garlic
1/2 Cup of Extra Virgin first Cold Pressed Olive Oil
2 Tbl South River Chickpea Miso
2 tsp of Umeboshi Vinegar
1 Cup of Pumpkin Seeds
1/2 Tsp Sea Salt 
Fresh Crushed Black Pepper

Method:
Trim and Cut  Zucchini in halves so the pieces will fit in the Spiralizer and turn handle clockwise. Be sure to use the blade with the teeth so you form long Capellini like strands.
Add the Basil, Olive Oil, Garlic, Miso and the Umeboshi Vinegar to your Blender and blend.
Toss your Pesto and Angel Hair Zucchini in a Large Bowl then mound on serving dishes.
In a Mini Food Processor add your Pumpkin Seeds and Sea Salt and Grind up and sprinkle over each dish, this takes the place of Cheese and adds a wonderful texture as well. Add a quick twist of Fresh Black Pepper and you have before you a Fresh Living Nourishing Meal!

Garnish:
Cherry Tomatoes sliced into halves, Edible Flowers of your choice, and a  Drizzle of your finest Olive Oil

Zucchini: is a good source of Protein, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Niacin, Phosphorus and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Magnesium, Potassium and Manganese.
Basil: is a good source of Protein, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Riboflavin and Niacin, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Copper and Manganese.
Pumpkin Seeds: are a good source of Protein,  Potassium, Magnesium and Zinc.
Olive Oil: Mediterranean Diet studies have long associated olive oil intake with decreased risk of heart disease. However, a recent group of studies has provided us with a fascinating explanation of olive oil's cardioprotective effect. One of the key polyphenols in olive oil - hydroxytyrosol (HT) - helps protect the cells that line our blood vessels from being damaged by overly reactive oxygen molecules. HT helps protect the blood vessel cells by triggering changes at a genetic level. The genetic changes triggered by HT help the blood vessel cells to enhance their antioxidant defense system. In other words, olive oil supports our blood vessels not only by providing antioxidants like like vitamin E and beta-carotene. Olive oil also provides our blood vessels with unique molecules like HT that actually work at a genetic level to help the cellular walls of the blood vessels remain strong.


Savor the Bounty of this Season with Appreciation and Grace for our Abundance!