Substitution: Walnut Pesto

I don’t have a “signature” dish, per se.  I like to play, I like to make new discoveries.  But I do have a few standby dishes that I know and love.  Penne pesto with chicken breast is one of them.  Trouble in River City: I wanted to make the dish, but someone I was cooking for has a pine nut allergy.  Pine nuts are an integral component of my pesto.  Oh boy.  It was time to experiment. 

Sometimes you have to change a dish a little bit.  Perhaps someone you’re cooking for is a bit finicky, or, as in this case, they have a food allergy.  This can freak out people with limited experience in the kitchen.  People with a lot of experience might scoff at the idea of messing with what they know is the “right” way.  This is stupid.  A good cook shouldn’t be snotty about his or her recipes.  Look at it as a chance to experiment.  Change the flavor profile a little bit.  That’s why I did with this.  Goodbye pine nuts, hello walnuts.