Pistachio Pesto Skillet Pasta with Caramelized Brussels Sprouts

Disclosure: This post is written in partnership with Florida Prepaid College Foundation as a member of their Believer Bloggers program. As always, all opinions here are my own.

Fess up: Did you do some real damage this year during Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales?

I have to admit, I cyber shopped 'til my eyes almost popped {all that screen time can be super harsh on your peepers!} for the first time in years. I found some great deals I just couldn't pass up... and --  ahem -- most of my purchases were gifts for family and friends.

My biggest struggle now that Cole is getting older is finding gifts that he won't outgrow right away. If I'm going to have a giant toy excavator in the middle of my living room 90% of the time, he better really love it and actually play with it, ya know? Luckily, Steve and I are both on the same page when it comes to buying him gifts -- we prefer not going overboard in the toy department and budgeting some of that gift money for things like art class or play gym memberships, and more importantly, depositing into his college fund.

I know so many parents have the same struggle, fielding that oh-so-unnerving question from family members year after year: "What should we buy him/her for Christmas?" There are only so many Legos, stuffed animals, trucks and games you can cram into your {already overflowing} house, and you know the excess will get tossed aside and never played with most of the time.

So here's a suggestion: This year, consider the gift of education. I know that might sound like a total snooze, but it's never too early to start saving for college and Florida Prepaid College Plans are the perfect way to get that underway. There all kinds of plans you can choose from to suit your family's needs and there are even ways to team up with other family members who want to contribute!

The 1-Year Florida University Plan, for example, is a plan that helps you purchase one year {30 credits} of State University credit hours according to your own timeline and budget.  Not only is it a no-pressure method of saving, but it allows for multiple purchasers to buy a plan for the same child, which means grandparents, aunts and uncles can chip in, too. A child can have up to four 1-Year Florida University Plans, which means a traditional 4-year degree can be saved for without having to buy all four years at once!

I know this might not sound like a dream gift for your 10-year-old's wish list, but I can guarantee that their future 20-something self will thank you for allowing them to have a debt-free beginning to their adult life.

You can get started with enrollment by heading to this page, and even get a discount on the application fee by using code: Prep1718. 

Now get going and cross one more gift off your list! 🙂

. . . . . . . . . .

Speaking of lists, I've got a few things you might want to add to your grocery list next week, starting with Brussels sprouts.

No, this isn't a punishment for that extra heaping helping of stuffing you served yourself during Thanksgiving, or the days of decadent leftovers that followed. If anything, this is a GIFT, because -- guess what? -- I myself am not a fan of Brussels Sprouts, and I may or may not have returned for another helping of this ridiculously good Pistachio Pesto Skillet Pasta with Caramelized Brussels Sprouts.

The key? That caramelization. Letting those sprouts turn deep, golden brown develops a whole new flavor that you never knew could exist in those often-stinky little buggers. Pinky promise.

That pistachio pesto, which blitzes together in just a few pulses in your food processor, also does wonders to amplify those rich, nutty flavors in this surprisingly easy-to-make skillet!

This is one time your family won't groan when you bring Brussels sprouts to the table. Be prepared to dish out seconds!

Pistachio Pesto Skillet Pasta with Caramelized Brussels Sprouts

The Kitchen Prep

The key? That caramelization. Letting those sprouts turn deep, golden brown develops a whole new flavor that you never knew could exist in those often-stinky little buggers. Pinky promise.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ a medium onion
• 3 cups shredded Brussels sprouts
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 pound pasta {I used brown rice fusilli but you can use your favorite}

For Pistachio Pesto

• ½ cup shelled pistachios {unsalted}
• 2 cups fresh basil
• 2 small garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ cup grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese plus extra for sprinkling

Instructions

 

• Cook pasta according to package directions in salted water. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook for about 2 minutes. Add Brussels sprouts and toss to combine. Sprinkle with sugar and stir.
• Increase the heat to high and allow the Brussels sprouts to sit for a few minutes without stirring until they begin to char in places. Stir and continue to cook this way for 10-15 minutes. If the pan begins to dry out or burn, add a few tablespoons of water at a time to deglaze the skillet and scrape up the brown bits. Continue to cook until the mixture turns a deep, caramelized brown.
• Meanwhile, make the pesto: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the pistachios, basil, garlic, lemon juice and sea salt until mostly chopped. Drizzle the olive oil through the feed tube while continuing to pulse until the mixture is combined and the pistachios are mostly ground. Add the cheese and pulse a few more times until the mixture is uniform. Set aside.
• Toss cooked pasta and the pesto {start with about half of it and decide how much you'd like to add} into the skillet with the Brussels sprouts, stirring gently to combine, careful not to break up the pasta.
• Sprinkle with additional cheese and pistachios before serving, if desired.