Sunflower Basil Pesto Pasta

• 1 pound Pasta (spaghetti, Penne, Macaroni, Bowties, Whatever)
• 1 package Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Sausage (4 Links)
• 4 cups Fresh Basil Leaves
• 1 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 cup Hulled Sunflower Seeds (roasted)
• 1 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Or Asiago Cheese
• 2 cloves Garlic, Crushed
• 1 teaspoon Salt, Or To Taste
• 1/2 teaspoons Pepper Or To Taste
• 23 cups Water (reserve Water When You Drain The Pasta)

1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain, reserving 2/3 cups of the hot water.
2. Rinse pasta and set aside.
3. Cook sun dried tomato chicken sausage according to package directions.
4. Slice into bite sized pieces and set aside.
5. Place basil, sunflower seeds, olive oil, Parmesan, and garlic into your food processor fitted with the metal blade.
6. Process to a puree, scraping down sides as needed.
7. Place pasta and pesto mixture into a large bowl, add the 2/3 cups of reserved water and toss and mix everything together well.
8. You can toss the sausage into the pasta and pesto mixture as well or top each individual bowl or plate with the desired amount.
9. Delicious!

pasta, chicken sausage, fresh basil, olive oil, sunflower seeds, freshly grated parmesan, garlic, salt, pepper, water

Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/sunflower-basil-pesto-pasta/ (may not work)