4 pesto pasta dish Recipes

fresh basil (i can usually grab a package for $2.00 at my local latino grocery store) - just rinse really well., garlic cloves-minced, water -or less (optional is making a less calorie version + 4 tbsp olive oil), olive oil -or less (i happen to have spanish olive oil which provides a little extra taste similar to that of extra virgin olive oil.), walnuts, freshly grated parmesan cheese (it doesn tsp have to be parmegiano reggiano which is super expensive - but do not use that stuff from the green can people - oh you know exactly what i am talking about) - and grating it yourself also saves on money. i can usually get a decent brand for $5-6 dollars a good sized wedge that lasts me a month from the cheese section at the large grocery store- and i use slivers of it over salads, and any pasta dishes., kosher or sea salt & freshly cracked pepper, equipment needed, blender or food processor (i have made pesto in both successfully), cutting board, paper towels or clean hand towels

manicotti pasta shells, cooked chicken, finely chopped, chive & onion cream cheese, frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained, tastefully simple dried tomato & garlic pesto sauce (i could not find this combo, so i bought sun dried tomato pesto and added minced garlic to make my o), shredded mozzarella cheese, for mixture, shredded mozzarella cheese, for topping, pasta sauce (use 1 jar for each dish )

pesto sauce mix (like knorr), water, extra virgin olive oil, pasta , of choice (we like tricolor rotini), zucchini, chopped, cremini mushrooms, sliced (baby portabella), onion, chopped, garlic cloves, diced, tomatoes, chopped, prosciutto ham, chopped