spinach pesto pasta salad

In the summer, the last thing I want to do is cook, so I've definitely been lagging on finding some delicious recipes. But I cooked up something for dinner that was fast, easy and simply delicious.

Spinach pesto pasta salad (adapted from the kitchn)

5 ounces baby spinach (organic 'til the day i die)

1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup grated parmesan
2 cloves garlic
1 lemon, halved
3 T olive oil
1 lb orzo
6oz crumbled feta
2/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, roughly chopped
1 clove shallot, diced
salt, pepper to taste

Take about half of your spinach and toss it into your food processor. Add your walnuts, parm, garlic, the juice of half of your lemon and some salt and mix that until it's combined. Top it off with the rest of your spinach, and stream in your olive oil while your food processor is on. Scrape down the sides, give it a taste, and add in some more salt or lemon juice if you like.

Cook up your orzo in some salted pasta water until al dente, drain and then pop it into a bowl with your pesto while your orzo is warm. Gently fold in your feta, kalamata olives and shallot, toss it with the juice from the other half of your lemon, and add in some salt and pepper to taste.

Cool that sucker up in the fridge and you're set for up to a week.

Heading to a BBQ tomorrow for the 4th and have nothing to bring? Whip this sucker up. You won't hate it.