Cavatappi with Arugula Pesto and Cherry Tomatoes

I made some changes, pignoli nuts are priced for people who are nuts- I substituted sunflower seeds- bleeping fantastic! I added yellow peppers and asparagus and also imitation crabmeat for a switch up from the norm. I felt it was delicious, hubby was not a fan of the arugula flavor and grit. But dang try it out!

I cheated a bit with this one. Couldn't find Cavatappi so used fusilli. Also bought storemade pesto. Added arugula at the end on top with the tomatoes and parmesan mixed in. Very colourful

I liked it but I think it needs more arugula, more olive oil, and more Parmesan. Tasty leftovers the next day, warmed in microwave and with extra grated Parm on top. Good way to use up lots of arugula from our CSA share though.

Just made this recipe last night for dinner, and really thought it was a winner, but I had to tweak a bit to really get some high quality flavors. 1) used fresh spinach in lieu of arugula (personal preference); 2) added 1 tbsp garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika to the pasta; 3) used "hidden veggie" twisted elbow pasta in lieu of cavatappi as that's what I had avail. The end result was really fantastic served with a simple steamed veggie side and grilled chicken breast. Very filling, and a great lunch served as a cold pasta salad. Will definitely be making again; enjoy!