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Get a big pot of water boiling.
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2
Dont salt it until you drop your pasta into the water.
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Heat a large pan (use one that has a lid) over medium high heat.
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Add about 2 3 Tablespoons of olive oil along with your sliced peppers.
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Add some salt and pepper and cover the pan so they steam.
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Add about 2 3 Tablespoons of olive oil to another pan and set over medium high heat.
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Once the oil is hot, add your ground turkey, salt and pepper, and about 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes and cook until brown.
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This should only take about 6 8 minutes tops.
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At this point, the veggies should be pretty soft, add your mushrooms and give a stir.
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Let those cook for about 3 5 minutes, then add the browned turkey to the veggie mix.
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Give it a stir, taste for seasoning, turn it down to low and cover the pan.
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Let those flavors have some time to get cozy.
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Salt your water and drop your pasta.
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Cook for about 9 minutes if youre using short cut pasta, less if youre using long spaghetti.
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(cook according to your package instructions)
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Time to make the pesto.
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Into the bowl of your food processor, add your garlic, jalapenos, salt and pepper, spinach, cheese, walnuts and remaining red pepper flakes.
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Give it a whirl in the food processor.
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Slowly stream in your remaining olive oil.
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Itll be pretty thick.
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But keep pulsing until its not, and thatll happen quickly.
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Youll see.
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Taste it.
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Re-season if necessary.
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It should be pretty spicy.
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If not, you could add some diced chilis.
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I had a little 5 ounce can.
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I used maybe 1/2 of the can.
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I dont know how much of a difference it made.
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30
I think Id go for more red pepper next time (assuming it wasnt spicy enough).
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31
Be creative.
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If you have a hotter pepper, use that, if you want more garlic, add more.
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If you have arugula (which has a spicy flavor), use that.
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34
My husband says my signature ingredient is red pepper flakes, hes right, I use it often.
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Thats my go-to spice.
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Set the pesto aside.
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Once the pasta is al dente, reserve about a cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to the large pot.
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Add your turkey and veggie mixture and spoon in some pesto.
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Give it a gentle stir.
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Add more pesto slowly.
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If you want to thin it out a little, add a little bit of the reserved pasta water.
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Plate it and youre done.
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Enjoy!
