Caprese Pasta

This is so easy. I learned this general dish years ago as a great entertainment dinner because you can have it all ready except the pasta and toss at the end before your guests arrive, so that you aren't in the kitchen while your party is having fun. My host used mozerella but we used goat cheese last night and it was much tangier -- depends on your taste :)

Serves 4. Easy to double or triple.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb fuselli (spiral) pasta (we prefer the whole wheat variety but regular is fine as well)
• 2 c grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 1/2 c fresh basil leaves
• 3 garlic cloves
• 2 tblsp olive oil (plus some for drizzling)
• 5 tblsp goat cheese or mozerella

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. In the meantime, put most of the basil leaves, the garlic cloves and the olive oil in a food processor and pulse a few times until the they are chopped finely. Add the chopped basil mixture and tomatoes to a large pasta serving dish.
3. Once the pasta is ready, drain and toss with a bit of olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Add to the bowl and toss with mixture.
4. Add cheese in small bits to the pasta and toss well so that the cheese spreads evenly and melts.

Pre-dinner prep instructions:

1. Do step 2 ahead and time, and let sit at room temperature.
2. Once guests arrive, start your pasta and then the toss and cheese steps only take less than 5 minutes to complete.

Additions:

• This would also be great served with chunks of cooked chicken breast.