Libbie Summers' Roasted Carrots with Spinach and Herb Pecan Pesto

Schermer @ Home: Libbie Summers, Libbie Summers Label, Savannah, Ga.
By Stephanie Burt, The Southern Fork

It’s hard to define Libbie Summers’ work. Depending on the day, she is content producer for corporate brands, cookbook author, food stylist, recipe developer, lifestyle and fashion maven, hawker of custom sugar sprinkles, and even private chef, event planner, and occasional motivational speaker.

“I’m a maker of a kind of modern nostalgic home,” Summers says. “I show how hostessing and cooking can be creative gifts.” She does that through example, by illustrating new ways to pair flavors, new ways to consider your role as host, and even new ways to look at something that you might have seen your whole life, such as a pecan.

“They are beautiful to look at, that striade of black on the shell,” she explains. “I like to honor the beauty of them start to finish, and in recipes, they not only add a really wonderful pungent flavor, but also a textural bite.”

Beyond the plate, though, she encourages people to consider the scene for the meal, the event, the evening. “Use what you have. We can forage through our own homes for inspiration, though our memories to come up with a theme. I call it foraging for a good time.”

Although there are few who can weave party and gathering magic like Summers, take a page from her book and imagine the setting in which you might gather friends to enjoy these two veggie-forward dishes. Maybe it’s an impromptu weeknight gathering on the screened-in back porch, a birthday dinner, or even weeknight around the table, enjoying everyone home and sharing their day's adventures. Now what do you have around that could make that scene just a little more fun, a little brighter, a little more special? That’s the beginning of living the Libbie Summers way -- building a creative life with a little dose of magic for the everyday.

Roasted Carrots with Spinach and Herb Pecan Pesto
from Libbie Summers, Savannah, Ga.
Serves 4

What you need:
1 pound carrots, cleaned and tops removed (no need to peel)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Flake sea salt
Coarsely ground black pepper
Spinach and Herb Pecan Pesto (recipe to follow)

Spinach and Herb Pecan Pesto
makes 1 ½ cups

2 cups spinach
1 tablespoon chopped chives
3 garlic cloves
2 cups packed mixed herbs (I used basil, parsley, oregano and thyme…just use whatever you have on hand)
½ cup pecans
1 cup olive oil
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil and set aside. Slice carrots in half lengthwise (if exceptionally fat, slice lengthwise again). Place carrots on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast until JUST tender and charred a bit along the edges.

While carrots are roasting, make the pesto. In a food processor add the spinach, chives, garlic and mixed herbs. Pulse just until roughly chopped. Add in Pecans and pulse twice. While the food processor is running, add the olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste.

To Serve: Place the warm carrots on a serving platter and spoon pesto over. Serve remaining pesto on the side. Unused pesto can be stored, refrigerated for 7-10 days.

Roasted Carrots topped with Pesto