Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Penne and Ridiculous Brownies

Good Sunday night! Hope everyone had a nice weekend. We had some great Birthday celebrations that are going to make some terrific posts later this week, so make sure to stay tuned. I’m drooling just thinking of them!

Did everyone notice that I am now picky-palate.com?! I feel so mature now, ok maybe not, but it’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while now and finally did it. No need to worry about switching it on your blogs, because Blogger automatically brings you here. I am also really excited for another blog face lift in mid October, so don’t be surprised if things look different around here in a couple weeks, can’t wait for a new look. I’m working on making it even better for everyone! Ok, enough of the small talk, bring on the food…..

 

First up is this fresh Roasted Red Pepper and Basil Pesto Penne dish that I put together late last week. My husband was already complaining when I told him what I was making for dinner because he claims to hate pesto. He’s crazy! Pesto is beyond delicious, especially this one! I did catch him eating it no problem, so I think he’s singing a different tune about this pesto. Although this wasn’t my boys favorite dinner, they both ate it without too many, “this doesn’t taste like spaghetti and meatballs!”

Roasted Red Pepper and Basil Pesto Penne Piccolini

½ Cup roasted red bell peppers from can or fresh

3 cloves fresh garlic

1/3 Cup parmesan cheese, grated

1/3 Cup pine nuts

1 ½ Cups basil leaves

½ teaspoon salt

½ Cup extra virgin olive oil

1 lb Penne Piccolini

¼ Cup heavy cream, if desired (I added it for a more creamy sauce, but it’s great just with the pesto as well)

1.Place roasted red peppers and garlic into food processor.Pulse until well combined.Add the parmesan, pine nuts, basil leaves and salt.With processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil.Set aside.

2.Cook penne according to package directions.Drain and transfer to a large rimmed skillet or pot. Pour in pesto and stir.Stir in heavy cream if desired.Heat for 5 minutes or until heated through.Best served immediately.

6 servings

 

I couldn’t resist another sweet ending

_______________

I know, I know, more brownies. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I can’t stop making them. These were inspired by the traditional magic bars we all make around the holidays. I decided to use an extra thick brownie instead of graham cracker crust, then added caramel pieces in the center and talk about heaven! I also drizzled a chocolate coconut sauce over the tops. I loved these brownies, but I will warn everyone that they are crazy messy. My boys had chocolate everywhere! So, be prepared to have napkins at hand!

Caramel Filled Magic Brownies

1 Box brownie mix 9×13 inch size

10 soft caramels, unwrapped and halved

2 ¼ Cups shredded sweetened coconut

14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

½ Cup chocolate chips

2 Tablespoons coconut oil (you can also use heavy cream)

1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.Place tin foil into an 8×8 inch baking dish.(I used a calphalon square cake pan).Spray foil generously with cooking spray.Prepare brownies according to package directions.Pour half of mix into pan.Place halved caramels evenly over brownies and pour remaining batter over caramels.

2.In a medium bowl, mix the coconut and condensed milk until well combined.Spoon evenly over top of brownies.Bake for 55-65 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean from center.Let cool for 15 minutes.Place chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30 second intervals until melted and smooth.Stir in coconut oil until shiny and smooth.Pour over warm brownies and let cool completely before cutting into squares.

9 large extra thick brownies

 

**If using 9×13 inch pan change oven’s temperature to 350 degrees F.

Have a good one. See you all soon with some fantastic Birthday treats!

Roasted Red Pepper and Basil Pesto Penne Piccolini/Caramel Filled Magic Brownies

Make Roasted Red Pepper and Basil Pesto Penne Piccolini for dinner with Caramel Filled Magic Brownies for dessert! Treat yourself to a cheesy pasta dinner followed by fudgy, caramel brownies.
Course: Dessert, Dinner
Cuisine: American
Print

Ingredients

For the Penne

  • ½ cup roasted red bell peppers from a can or fresh
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic
  • â…“ cup parmesan cheese grated
  • â…“ cup pine nuts
  • 1½ cups basil leaves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound penne piccolini
  • ¼ cup heavy cream if desired (I added it for a more creamy sauce, but it’s great just with the pesto as well)

For the Brownies

  • 1 brownie mix 9x13 inch size
  • 10 soft caramels unwrapped and halved
  • 2¼ cups shredded sweetened coconut
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk (I used 1 14-ounce can)
  • ½ cup chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil (you can also use heavy cream)

Instructions

For the Penne

  • Place roasted red peppers and garlic into food processor. Pulse until well combined. Add the parmesan, pine nuts, basil leaves and salt. With processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil. Set aside.
  • Cook penne according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large rimmed skillet or pot. Pour in pesto and stir. Stir in heavy cream if desired. Heat for 5 minutes or until heated through. Best served immediately.

For the Brownies

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place tin foil into an 8x8 inch baking dish. (I used a calphalon square cake pan). Spray foil generously with cooking spray. Prepare brownies according to package directions. Pour half of mix into pan. Place halved caramels evenly over brownies and pour remaining batter over caramels.
  • In a medium bowl, mix the coconut and condensed milk until well combined. Spoon evenly over top of brownies.
  • Bake for 55-65 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean from center. Let cool for 15 minutes. Place chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30 second intervals until melted and smooth. Stir in coconut oil until shiny and smooth. Pour over warm brownies and let cool completely before cutting into squares.

Notes

Penne: Makes 6 servings. 
Brownies: Makes 9 large extra thick brownies.
**If using 9x13 inch pan for the brownies change oven’s temperature to 350 degrees F.
Keywords: basil pesto penne, caramel brownies, magic brownies, red pepper pasta

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56 Responses
  1. Kendyl White

    HEY! I was just wondering, is the sauce that we make the pesto? or do I have to buy pesto to use too??

  2. Rat Pack Tribute

    Magnificent points altogether, you just won a brand new reader. What could you recommend about your put up that you simply made a few days ago? Any certain?

  3. pepper spray

    Wow, fantastic weblog structure! How lengthy have you been blogging for? you make running a blog glance easy. The overall glance of your web site is great, let alone the content!

  4. Jaime

    i adore pesto…and adding roasted red pepper to it is a great idea! those brownies look sooooooo sinfully delicious

  5. Leslie

    My husband is up in the air about pesto as well! Freak!
    Yours look yummy..and oh those brownies!

  6. Joseph & Julianna

    Love your site. My husband sure has a picky palate! 2 things: while you are updating your site, you should find a way for readers to print recipes nicely to add to our recipe books. Second, I am a full time student and work almost as much so I’m going back and forth from school to work and am not always by a fridge or microwave. Do you have any good lunch suggestions? Plain sandwiches are getting boring. Thanks!

  7. Mandy

    Congrats on the web address. That is very exciting to see Picky Palate growing up and I can’t wait to see the new design! This pasta looks great, and the brownies divine!

  8. alexandra's kitchen

    very cool! I was thinking of trying to do that with Blogger, too, but I couldn’t quite figure it out.

    Roasted red pepper pesto sounds amazing, and yes, these brownies look ridiculous! and delicious.

  9. hot garlic

    Okay, how could your hubby not like pesto?! This looks like a seriously great one with everything that I love, and YES please on the cream!

    The brownies DO look ridiculous, my mouth is watering. What is not to love, coconut, caramel, chocolate?! So good. Seriously -SO good!

    Congrats on your new dot com, aren’t you fancy!

  10. Emiline

    Wow! The pasta and brownies look great.

    Congrats on the dot com. Looking forward to the new design – I love changing stuff around.

  11. Aggie

    Yes, you are right, those brownies are ridiculous! Wow!

    I love that pasta dish! Pesto is a favorite of mine…haven’t tried it with roasted red peppers yet!

    Congrats on the .com!

  12. Emily

    I could live on pesto! (poor hubby) You always have the SWEETEST endings! Love it!

    Congrats on the .com!!! Very exciting!

  13. Bob

    It all looks wicked good, but I’m definitely trying that pesto. I’m a sucker for roasted peppers.

  14. Katrina

    Both the pesto and brownies sound YUM to me! I love pesto. I don’t think my husband cares for it, but it may be because when I make it I usually don’t have a big piece of meat on the side, so I think it’s just not “enough” for him.
    The brownies look to-die-for!
    I made pb cookies with Oreos today and another version, killer chocolate cookies with Oreos yesterday. They are SO good!

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