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Everyone Loves to Smile!

Roasted Summer Vegetables with Gnocchi in a Creamy Pesto Sauce

This recipe is a fantastic way to use delicious summer vegetables. It is light and healthy but
loaded with flavors and textures. The mascarpone cheese adds a creamy element to the dish
but can easily be omitted if desired or if you are vegan or lactose-intolerant. This recipe
incorporates cherry tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, and spinach, but truly any summer
vegetable can be substituted in or added. We used Trader Joe’s gnocchi (takes only 3 minutes
to cook!) but any brand works. The entire dish makes about 3 servings and is a smile food!

Total fiber-sugar-protein for whole dish: 21-6-33 (21-0-33 if tracking only added sugar) Fiber-sugar protein for a single portion: 7-2-11 (7-0-11 if tracking only added sugar)


Directions:

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Place cherry tomatoes on a baking sheet and cover with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin
    olive oil, salt, and pepper. Set aside until oven is heated.
  3. While the oven is heating, slice the bell pepper and thinly slice the zucchini into rounds.
  4. Put the baking sheet with tomatoes in the oven and roast for 10 minutes. After 10
    minutes, add the bell pepper and mix into the tomatoes to coat with the oil and
    seasoning. Add more olive oil if needed. After 10 minutes, add the zucchini, mix in with
    the other vegetables, and roast for an additional 5-10 minutes until vegetables are
    softened to your liking.
  5. While the vegetables are roasting, boil a pot of water and cook the gnocchi according to
    the package.
  6. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan. Once hot, add in the cooked
    gnocchi and cook on medium heat for a couple minutes until the sides start to lightly
    brown.
  7. Turn the heat to low and add in the spinach, pesto (ready-made), mascarpone, lemon
    juice, cayenne, and the roasted vegetables. Make sure to mix in the tomato juices from
    the roasting as well. Add any additional salt, pepper, lemon juice, pesto, or mascarpone
    until it’s to your liking.
  8. Plate and top with shaved parmesan.

Note 1. Oils have zero fiber, sugar, and protein, but they offer calories and fat, both necessary
to bodily strength and health. Typical olive oil provides, per 1 tablespoon, 120 calories and 14
grams of total fats, which is a blend of 2 grams saturated, 1 gram polyunsaturated, and 11
grams monounsaturated fats. Typical canola oil also contains 120 calories and 14 grams of total
fats, composed of 1 gram saturated, 3.5 grams polyunsaturated, and 9 grams monounsaturated
fats. Other oils are similar but varied, and you can consult a particular oil’s Nutrition Facts table
for details. For more information pertaining to oils, you can read our article on fats.


Note 2. Spices do not come with a Nutrition Facts table. They typically have no (zero) nutrients.
They do not offer calories, fats, fiber, sugar, or protein. Some spices, however, are of concern
with individual medical conditions. For example, salt (sodium) is a seasoning that warrants
careful monitoring of consumption levels because eating too much can increase your risk of
high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Other spices are thought to have unique health
benefits separate from providing calories, fiber, and protein. You can read our article on spices
and seasoning for more details.

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