Uses for Spinach Hazelnut Pesto

The post right before this one was for spinach hazelnut pesto.  If you haven't made it yet... go do it.  If you need some inspiration on uses, here are two delicious ways I used the pesto.

Asparagus Pizza w/ Spinach Hazelnut Pesto:
I made a whole wheat rosemary dough for the crust.  Spread a good layer of the pesto over the pre-baked crust, about 1/2 C for a 12x8 (~11 in circ.) pizza.  Load it up with a low moisture mozzarella, about 1 1/2 C.  Top that with 1/2 bunch of asparagus cut on a bias into ~1 in pieces and toss with a little bit of oil, salt and pepper.  Dust the top with parmesan.  Bake until golden and bubbly.  This pizza is faaaantastic!

Grilled Vegetable and Pasta w/ Spinach Hazelnut Pesto:
We simply grilled a variety of vegetables--peppers, squash, onions, tomatoes-- that we tossed in oil, salt and pepper.  I grilled them in large pieces and then cut them up after they were cooked.  Tossed the veg with cooked pasta and added the pesto.  I did add a little more extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice to the whole thing so the pesto coated everything more easily.  Kind of the perfect side for anything... or a light meal all on its own!