What's for Dinner? Wednesday: Gnocchi with Pesto

We're one week into 2014!  If you've been thinking about working on your eating habits this year, you've come to the right place.  Every Wednesday at Fit Armadillo is What's for Dinner? Wednesday where I share one of my favorite recipes. This Wednesday, I'm also joining in on the Workout Wednesday Linkup.  I learned about the linkup from Diatta Harris, one of the awesome ladies from the Twelve Days of Fitness Blog Challenge that I hosted.  Visit her page HERE>> to learn more about the WOW Linkup.

For those of you new to my page, I'm going to be totally transparent, I'm not a chef! I'm just a personal trainer who likes cooking healthy.  All of my recipes are modified from ones made by real chefs. They are recipes that I enjoy, that are healthy, and that are easy to make. Because remember, I'm not a chef! Like, seriously not a chef. Like, I've almost cut the index finger on my left hand off three times not a chef. So you're in good hands, er...you know what I mean! I'm not going to have you slaving away in the kitchen. 

Speaking of not slaving away in the kitchen, this week's recipe will take ten minutes or less to complete.  That's because tonight's meal is Gnocchi with Pesto!  Haven't had gnocchi before? Neither had I until the Christmas holidays. It's a delicious pasta that reminds me of a dumpling without any filling.  Super delicious! Ready to try it out? Here are the ingredients you'll need:

Ingredients for Gnocchi with Pesto for 4:

1 (17.5 oz) package fresh gnocchi
3/4 cup chopped parsley
3/4 cup chopped basil
3 tbsp Parmesan
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp capers
1 garlic clove
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

How to put it all together:

Step One:  Open up your package of gnocchi and admire those cute little pasta pillows.  Check the box for your cooking directions and set up up a pot to boil with the correct amount of water for your batch.  

Step Two: While your gnocchi are enjoying a lovely soapless bubble bath (Please don't put soap in your pot! Unless, of course one of your kids was being bad. Then just add the soap in for a small batch at the end. Kidding! Kidding!), make your pesto.  All you have to do is combine the remaining ingredients and mix them together in your food processor until they form a sauce (about 2 mins).

Step Three: By the time your pesto is done, your pasta should be ready! Drain out the water and introduce the two.  Divide up your final product among four bowls and enjoy a delicious dinner for less than 300 calories. Serve with your choice of veggies or a great big salad for a complete meal. 

And that's it! Told you it would be easy.  This recipe was adapted from one in the Weight Watchers book, In No Time Delicious Dishes in 20 Minutes or Less.  

Are you going to cook with us tonight? Wanted to join in, but didn't have time to go to the store? Make sure to sign up for my newsletter so you'll always get the list of ingredients at the beginning of the week by clicking HERE>> Have you ever tried gnocchi? Share your thoughts with a comment below and share this recipe if you enjoyed it!: