Pesto

Add the basil, walnuts and parmesan cheese to the bowl of your food processor

Process on high for 1-2 minutes

Keep the food processor on and slowly pour in the olive oil

Continue to process until pesto is smooth

Add the lemon juice and salt to taste

Set pesto aside

Candied Walnuts

Prep a baking sheet or other flat surface and line with a piece of parchment paper

Melt the butter over medium heat in a skillet on the stove top

Working with a wooden spatula, add the the sugar and add a pinch of salt to the butter, mix

Add the walnuts and use the wooden spatula to move them around to coat in the butter sugar mixture

Keep cooking, stirring constantly until the walnuts and sugar are lightly browned, but not burnt

Spread the walnuts out on the parchment paper to harden, make sure they are not all clumped together

Walnuts will take about 15 minutes to cool and harden

Pasta Salad

Prepare pasta according to package instructions for al dente

Drain the pasta and run under cold water to cool

In a large bowl toss the cooled pasta with the pesto

Remove the stems and slice the strawberries, add them to the pasta salad, toss

Slice the mozzarella pearls in half and add them to the pasta salad, toss

Add the cooled candied walnuts, toss

Serve and enjoy!