Lots of Basil? Make A Pesto Pasta!

It's that time of year, your garden is probably growing crazy and probably overflowing with basil if you planted it this year! Yesterday, while at my Mom's house, she had so much basil and I whipped up an easy pesto recipe. I thought it would be great over pasta for dinner, so I used the pesto with some cheese to make this very easy pesto pasta recipe. I chose gemelli pasta noodles, but really it can be anything you like. I like these noodles because they have so many crevices that they hold onto the pesto sauce. Enjoy!

2 cups of fresh basil
4 garlic cloves
1/4 cup of walnuts (or pine nuts, but walnuts are cheaper and were on hand)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup of Parmesan Asiago cheese blend (or just Parmesan if that is all you have)
1 pound of Gemelli pasta

1. In large pot boil pasta according to package directions.
2. In food processor blend basil, walnuts, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. (These six ingredients together is a very basic pesto recipe. If you are wanting a quick appetizer, it's wonderful on a piece of crusty bread!)
3. Once the pasta is al dente, drain the water. Mix hot pasta with pesto and cheese. Garnish with a little bit of cheese on the top and enjoy!

~Beth