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My Two Cents: A Great Pesto

By WTOP Staff

Cilantro Flat leaf parsley Curly parsley

My Two Cents is a weekly opinion column from Bethesda resident Joseph Hawkins. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of BethesdaNow.com.

When cooking, I frequently use parsley (also known as curly parsley), flat leaf parsley (also known as Italian parsley), and cilantro (also known as Chinese parsley).

My favorite trick is to combined all three herbs into a pesto, which I’ve used to flavor fish (it does a wonderful job as a fish marinate) and meat (it goes great as a steak condiment) or simply to mix the pesto in with cooked pasta.

Joseph HawkinsBecause I know these herbs, I have no trouble picking them out. Most Bethesda grocery stores do a wonderful job of labeling them anyway. I’m asked periodically by shoppers to help them figure out which herb is which.

Of the three herbs, cilantro is the easiest to identify, mostly because of its strong smell. I’m not in total agreement that it smells like soap, but it comes close.

If you’re shopping for cilantro and still in doubt about what you’re putting in the grocery basket, pinch a few leaves from the bunch, break the leaves open between your fingers (a gentle rub should do it), and smell your fingers. You definitely will get back a strong onion-like odor.

For me, both curly and Italian parsleys smell somewhat grassy — although, a rub of either between the fingers can result in no noticeable odor at all. So picking out either of these in the store probably comes down to sight over smell.

After the jump is my pesto recipe. I make the pesto in a blender; however, a food processor also works.

Step 1: Wash, dry, and chop 1 bunch of curly parsley, 1 bunch of flat leaf parsley, and 1 bunch of cilantro. Set aside in a large mixing bowl.  (Note: Should you use the stems?  I usually use the stems, but if the stems are super dirty or full of grit, I will discard them.)

Step 2: Put the following ingredients into your blender and mix thoroughly:

  • 1 1/2 cups of olive oil
  • 1/2 of lemon juice
  • 4 ounces of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup of toasted pine nuts. This is easy: Place in a skillet with a little olive oil on 5 minutes on high heat.
  • 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons of salt
  • 3 chopped garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons capers
  • ½ teaspoons of hot red pepper flakes

Step 3: Begin putting handfuls of the parsley and cilantro into the blender and blending it with the liquid. Continue blending until everything is a nice smooth liquid. The liquid should be on the thick side. (Note: If you find that the pesto paste is too thick, simply pour in more olive oil.)

Step 4: Taste your pesto.  If you think the pesto needs more salt, add more and blend a few more seconds.

Step 5: Pour into a container and refrigerate until you are ready to use. The pesto can hang out in your fridge for several weeks.

Enjoy!

Joseph Hawkins is a longtime Bethesda resident who remembers when there was no Capital Crescent Trail. He works full-time for an employee-owned social science research firm located Montgomery County. He is a D.C. native and for nearly 10 years, he wrote a regular column for the Montgomery Journal. He also has essays and editorials published in Education Week, the Washington Post, and Teaching Tolerance Magazine. He is a serious live music fan and is committed to checking out some live act at least once a month.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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