Fusili with Clam & Basil butter sauce

Pasta. Pasta. Pasta! How can it not bring a warm feeling to your bosom? Lol If you love seafood pasta as much as I do then you'll love this clam pasta.  It's super easy and quick.  You can use any kind of pasta you want.  My personal favorite is Angel hair.  Use your favorite or whatever you have on hand.  I had Fusili on hand so that's what I used, plus it's pretty.  You can find canned clam next to the tuna and canned salmon at the grocery store.  This isn't like a cream sauce it's actually more of a broth like liquid and you don't have to put a lot of the sauce on your pasta since the Clam itself has such a strong flavor.  If you have kids and think they won't eat the clam sauce, just serve the pasta to them w/out the sauce and just put Parmesan on top for them.  Trust me! It's good with out the sauce as well.  My brother-in-law showed me how to make this recipe a couple years ago, it's cheap yet makes you feel comfortably fancy :)

• 1 (12 oz.) Pkg of Fusili or any kind of pasta
• 2 (6 1/2 oz.) cans of minced clam in clam juice
• 2 stick of margarine or butter
• 1/4 C. and 3 T. of dried basil, separated
• 1-3 t. of garlic salt
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Begin with boiling your water for your pasta, put in the pasta when your water comes to a boil and cook according to package directions.  While your pasta is cooking, in a small or medium sauce pan pour in the 2 cans of minced clam with the the juice, and put in 1 stick of margarine over med-high heat until the margarine has melted.  Turn the heat down to medium and stir in 3 T. of the basil and add however much garlic salt to your liking.  I start with 1 tsp and add more if needed.  Once it's to your liking turn it to low and let it heat through for a minute then turn off the stove. 

If your pasta is ready, go ahead and strain it.  Pour the strained pasta in a bowl and immediately add the other stick of margarine and the 1/4 C. of dried basil into the pasta.  Stir it around till the margarine has melted and the basil has coated all the pasta, you can increase or decrease the dried basil to your liking.  Serve the hot pasta in a bowl and ladle the clam sauce over it and if you want, sprinkle lots of Parmesan cheese on top.  SO delish!  Also great with some hot french bread :)
Serves 3-4.

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