Pesto Pasta Salad

This Barefoot Contessa recipe for pesto pasta salad runs neck and neck with her orzo with roasted vegetable pasta salad as my favorite pasta salad recipes. I am a huge fan of pesto especially in the summer when basil is in season - for me, basil is the smell of summer.

While the quantity of olive oil in pesto makes it hard to say it's healthy (even with a good oil like olive oil, this is a lot), the addition of the spinach in this recipe helps make this salad a little less guilt ridden while helping it remain green even days after it is made. Even still, I cut back the olive oil in this pest recipe to 1/2 a cup and often cut the mayonnaise by 1/2 and use light mayo.

If you never have made pesto before, it's really easy and is much better fresh than anything prepared.

Lastly, don't skimp on the pine nuts (make sure they are toasted). They really add great flavor and texture. I also read the other day they are full of antioxidants...no wonder those Italians look so great.