Caprese Appetizer and Prosciutto Perline Pasta in a Basil-Garlic Butter Sauce

In the words of my brother, "Oh shit...this is amazing."
Amazing for something that can be thrown together in 5-10 minutes. :P J and I tried Trader Joe's Perline Pasta & Prosciutto today and I whipped up a simple sauce and appetizer to match. J made gigantic salads.

Caprese Appetizer: So simple, so wonderful!

Ingredients:
Fresh mozzarella, cubed
Fresh basil (individual leaves)
Cherry tomatoes
Extra virgin olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Salt
Pepper


Directions:
Skewer tomato, basil leaf, and mozzarella cube on a toothpick. Repeat. Drizzle with balsamic and olive oil. Season with a little salt and pepper. Serve.




Prosciutto Perline Pasta in a Basil-Garlic Butter Sauce

Ingredients:
2 packages of Trader Joes Perline Pasta & Prosciutto, prepared (takes 2-3 minutes to cook!)
1/4 cup of butter (half of a stick)
2-3 cloves garlic
1/3 cup fresh basil, ribboned
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Boil a large pot of water and cook pasta according to directions. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic, basil, olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Drain pasta when cooked, return to pot. Add sauce and coat well. Serve topped with shredded Parmesan and basil garnish.

Yum!