Stuffed shell pasta experiment

What I do when I am out of time and of cooking ideas? Usually, a pasta dish, with garlic, some za'atar and grated cheese - answers all the hungry needs in the house. It also can be done within minutes so...what are I am waiting for?

Somehow, I need to diversify my pasta knowledge and my experience with testing various flavours and ingredients. The shell pasta are my favourite playground, because I can stuff different ingredients and have an impressive number of choices for testing until I find the right combination.

As for the last testing, I tried the following fillings:

- avocado spread with dill and goat cheese - too heavy

- yellow paprika, a little bit grated, with corn - fresh for the summer. I have to add also some pinch of salt or some pepper for the taste

- brown champignongs finely chopped and fried, with garlic - acceptable

- goat cheese with dill and paprika - a good choice

Actually, the number of combinations is quite good, which makes the shell pasta a good choice for finger food and summer dinners, All you need is to have around 5 ingredients, and mix them creatively. And, of course, the pasta shells.

Homemade pesto recipe

I am a big, very big lover of pasta for breakfast, lunch and supper. Call it my mono diet which makes me happy, very happy. However, after so many trials and errors, and a high demand in the home for my special pasta at least once the week, I need to diversify and be more creative. Hence, the need to work out ingredients and sauces, until I will be brave enough to buy my own pasta machine and, who knows, start my own pasta food line. My newest addition to the recipe book is the pesto, which I decided it is about time to have it homemade. Here are the results I am keen to share with my readers.

It serves three.
Preparation: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
30 walnuts
4 teaspoon Herbs oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
around 40 leaves of fresh basilicum
4 garlic gloves
Put all these ingredients in the food processor and mix them at high speed for 5 minutes.

Take the mixture out and pour it in a bowl. Mix it well and wait when pasta are ready. Add the pesto together with the pasta in a hot pan and mix well.

It is recommended to be prepared and served fresh. If you want some sparkling taste, add one or two teaspoons of fresh lemon juice too.