Penne with Olive and Pistachio Pesto

1 lb penne
4 1/3 ox unsalted, shelled pistachio nuts
4 cloves garlic
1 tbsp green peppercorns
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
5 oz pitted black olives
1 1/3 cups freshly grated parmesan plus extra for serving
1/2 cup light olive oil

Prep:
Cool the penne in a large pan of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and return to the pan.
   While the penne is cooking, combine the pistachio nuts, garlic, peppercorns, lemon juice, black olives and cheese in a food processor until roughly chopped.
   While the motor is running, slowly add in the olive oil in a thin stream.  Blend until the mixture is smooth.  Toss the pesto through the hot pasta and serve topped with the extra parmesan.

  Pesto is one of my favorite things.  Replace the pistachios with any nut of your choice.  I know that nuts can be expensive, but if you get them in bulk and store them in the freezer; you get your money's worth.

Eat Well,
Coach Daniel Riehn

     Sometimes all we need is a little genuine encouragement and a push in the right direction to make the progress we want to make.  Building purposeful relationships in reference to your wellbeing can dramatically increase your chances of long term goal success.
     That is why Health Coaching is so effective.  It's small sustainable changes and human connection rolled into a caring, competent professional.  Working with a Health Coach dramatically increases your chances of success because you are investing time and money into your health instead of attempting to make changes alone and without guidance.

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A great alteration I discovered yesterday about the Frozen Watermelon Cooler is to add:
black cherries
1/2 fresh peach
handful of strawberries

It was so good! Try it with a little plain yogurt and honey too.  Tell me about your own variations in the comments below and follow me on Twitter @eminenthealth

Frozen Watermelon Cooler

1 cup chopped watermelon
1 3/4 cup ice
1 cup of your favorite herbal tea cold from the refrigerator
Fresh mint (optional)

1. Combine everything until smooth and serve.

Note: If your blender can't handle the ice don't worry about it.  Just add more watermelon and/or tea.  Have the tea and watermelon in the refrigerator before hand and you won't need the ice any way.  And as always don't be afraid to play around with it!  Try different teas and tell me in the comments below what your favorite is.

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