Basil Pesto Pasta.

It's a pasta feast in our house lately.  Have been experimenting on different pasta recipes since they are super easy to cook.

Having basil plants outside made me want to try the pesto way.  So, here goes.

Ingredients include -

Cooked Spaghetti pasta

2 cups of fresh basil
Half cup of Pine Nuts (which are surprisingly darn expensive)
3-4 cloves of garlic
Half cup of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
Half cup of Parmesan Cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Mushrooms quickly fried in EVOO (I love) as optional ingredient

Feel free to play around with the measurements depending on the taste and consistency that will delight you.

I realized that this did not require any cooking (except for the mushrooms).  A food processor is required though.  Below is how to prepare the dish --

1) Throw in the basil leaves, pine nuts and garlic.  Pulse the food processor several times until nuts and leaves are combined and broken to smaller pieces.
2) While the food processor is running, slowly pour in the EVOO.
3) Scrape the sides of the food processor, add the Parmesan, salt and pepper.  Continue to pulse until well blended.
4) Mix the pesto with the pasta in a bowl.  Add the fried mushrooms.  Mix until ingredients are evenly combined.
5) Plate. Serve. Enjoy.