PERFECT PESTO PASTA

See full recipe below.

This is my favorite dish to take to a picnic or BBQs. This recipe is colorful, quick, and easy. DYK: A 1/4-cup serving of prepared pesto contains 15 percent of the daily value for vitamin A, 6 percent for vitamin C, 20 percent for calcium and 4 percent for iron, based on a 2,000-calorie diet.

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Did You Know

A 1/4-cup serving of prepared pesto contains 15 percent of the daily value for vitamin A, 6 percent for vitamin C, 20 percent for calcium and 4 percent for iron, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. You also get about 6 g of protein per serving of pesto. Basil offers phytochemicals called orientin and vicenin. These phytochemical nutrients act like antioxidants. They travel through your system destroying free radicals that increase your risk of cancer, heart disease and other chronic conditions. Packing extra basil into your pesto sauce ensures that you consume high amounts of these beneficial antioxidants.

This is a dish that you can add any seasonal vegetable to. My favorites includes grilled cherry tomatoes, zucchini,asparagus , red peppers and olives. The more colors present in your dish, the more vitamins, minerals and nutrients are provided.

The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta, but rinsing will cool the pasta and prevent absorption of your sauce. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad or pesto.

Perfect Pesto Pasta

Lunch with Leftovers

A pesto panini is the perfect on the go lunch. Use leftover grilled zucchini and tomato and any other veggies you would like to top with carrots, lettuce,sprouts. take two slices of whole grain bread and brush with pesto sauce. Layer veggies and tofu slices. Grill to lock in the flavor. If you are not grilling take pesto on the side and add before eating....no one wants a soggy sammie.