Crispy Pesto Gnocchi with Tomatoes and Ham

Ok, I know it has been a long time since I have blogged... the start up of our fall schedule and just life in general has been a bit crazy, pushing things like blogging to the side for a while.  But, I promise you, this recipe is worth the wait!  It was delicious!!!!  So yummy!  A perfect fall recipe on a crisp Minnesota evening. Well, it doesn't have to be a fall recipe, but it was a great meal for us.  It seemed extra Fall-y (is that a word?) because we also had it with some oven roasted squash, which I love!

Crispy Pesto Gnocci with Tomatoes and Ham

Recipe adapted from www.iowagirleats.com

1 pkg. pre-made potato gnocchi
2 Tbsp. pesto
1 pt. cherry tomatoes, halved
1 c. ham cubed
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
parmesan cheese, for topping

Boil gnocchi for 2-3 minutes or until they begin to float.  Drain and set aside.

In a large skillet, cook ham until hot and just beginning to brown.  Remove from pan. 

Add olive oil and garlic.  Cook about 30 sec. to 1 min. until garlic becomes just fragrant.  Add gnocchi in a single layer and cook until it begins to crisp on one side (about 3-4 minutes).  Shake pan and cook additional 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy on all sides.

Stir in pesto and tomatoes and ham and serve with parmesan on top.  Yum!

Husband Rating: 10 out of 10

Food for Thought: I think another nice addition to this meal might be some chopped spinach.  That always seems to go nicely.  You could also easily leave out the ham if you wanted a vegetarian version.  Check out the blog that I got the recipe from.  It's adorable.  It's written by a girl in Iowa who loves to cook and loves to run.  Hmmmm, a midwest girl who cooks and runs... sound familiar???   :)