Penne With Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Chicken

I saw this recipe being made on "Everyday Italian" on the food network. The original recipe did not call for chicken, but I think it needed a little meat to make it extra yummy. Enjoy!

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 5

Ingredients

• 12  ounces penne pasta
• 1 1⁄2 cups  diced  cooked chicken
• 1 (8 1/2ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
• 2  garlic cloves
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1  cup  packed fresh basil leaf
• 1⁄2 cup  freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite (al dente), stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
2. Meanwhile chop cooked chicken.
3. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
4. Blend the sun-dried tomatoes and their oil, garlic, salt and pepper, to taste, and basil in a food processor and blend until the tomatoes are very finely chopped.
5. Transfer the tomato mixture to a large bowl and stir in the Parmesan and the chicken.
6. Add the pasta to the pesto and toss to coat, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten.
7. Season the pasta to taste, with salt and pepper and serve.