Toss It Together Pasta Surprise Food

PESTO SURPRISE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; rinse with cold water and drain.
• Prepared zesty Italian dressing according to package directions.
• In a large bowl, toss together pasta, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, black olives, green olives and cheese. Pour dressing over all, add pesto, and stir until evenly coated. Refrigerate or serve immediately.

SIMPLE PASTA TOSS

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed.
• While pasta is cooking, in a large pot, heat olive oil and saute chicken, garlic, salt, garlic powder, basil, and oregano until chicken is cooked.
• Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook for two minutes.
• Remove from heat and toss with pasta.
• Serve with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

PASTA WITH CHOPPED PESTO AND PEAS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In a small or medium skillet over medium, toast nuts, shaking the skillet occasionally until browned (try one to see), 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board to cool.
• As the nuts cool, into a large bowl, grate the Parmesan on the small holes of a box grater (or pulse chunks in a blender).
• Add the garlic clove and a pinch of salt to the pile of nuts and coarsely chop the nuts and garlic together. Add a handful of the herbs and another pinch of salt, and coarsely chop. (Opt for forceful, purposeful chops as opposed to soft, timid ones.) Toss and smash the mixture every few chops. Repeat with the remaining herbs, salting at each step, until a wet, coarse paste forms. Stir into the cheese, then stir in the olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente. In the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the peas to the pasta. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain. Add the pasta and peas to the pesto and stir to combine. Add pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Season to taste with salt, pepper, more oil and more Parmesan.