Bow Ties With Pesto Feta And Cherry Tomatoes Food

BROCCOLI AND BOW TIES

Steps:

• Cook the broccoli for 3 minutes in a large pot of boiling salted water. Remove the broccoli from the water with a slotted spoon or sieve. Place in a large bowl and set aside.
• In the same water, cook the bow-tie pasta according to the package directions, about 12 minutes. Drain well and add to the broccoli.
• Meanwhile, in a small saute pan, heat the butter and oil and cook the garlic and lemon zest over medium-low heat for 1 minute. Off the heat, add 2 teaspoons salt, the pepper, and lemon juice and pour this over the broccoli and pasta. Toss well. Season to taste, sprinkle with the pignolis and cheese, if using, and serve.
• To toast pignolis, place them in a dry saute pan over medium-low heat and cook, tossing often, for about 5 minutes, until light brown.

BOW TIES WITH PESTO, FETA, AND CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• To make the pesto: Place all ingredients with a half cup of the oil in a blender and blend. Gradually add the remaining quarter cup of oil until pesto is thick and smooth.
• To make the pasta: Heat a large pot of salted water to a boil. Stir in the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and run it under cold water just until it stops steaming. Bounce the pasta around to get rid of as much water as you can.
• Dump the pasta into a large serving bowl. Stir in the pesto until the pasta is coated. Toss in the cherry tomatoes and crumbled feta. Taste the salad and season it as you like with salt and pepper. You can make the salad up to about an hour before you serve it. Check out the salt and pepper just before you serve the salad. If it's looking a little dry, add some olive oil and stir it around.

BOW TIE PASTA WITH PESTO, FETA & CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• For the pesto, place all ingredients with ½ cup of the oil in a blender and blend.
• Gradually drizzle in the remaining ¼ cup of oil until pesto is thick and smooth.
• This will make about 1 1/2 cups pesto.
• For the pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
• Stir in the bow ties and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 10 minutes.
• Drain the pasta and run it under cold water just until it stops steaming.
• Bounce the pasta around to get rid of as much water as you can.
• Dump the pasta into a large serving bowl.
• Stir in the pesto until the pasta is coated.
• Toss in the cherry tomatoes and the crumbled feta.
• Taste the salad and season it as you like with salt and pepper.
• You can make the salad up to about 1 hour before you serve it.
• If the salad looks a little dry, add some olive oil prior to serving.