Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, following the package instructions. Before draining, scoop out about ¼ cup of the pasta water and set it aside. Drain the pasta, then return it to the pot along with the reserved water.

While the pasta’s still hot, stir in the homemade pesto and parmesan cheese. Mix everything together until the pasta is well coated and everything’s warmed through — just a few minutes on low heat will do the trick.

If you like, top with halved cherry tomatoes and an extra sprinkle of parmesan.

Serve it just like that, or add your favorite protein (steak, chicken, or shrimp all work beautifully). Dig in and enjoy!