GARLICKY PASTA CHICKEN SALAD

Ingredients:

6        whole heads of fresh garlic 

3/4 cup  olive oil 

4        rosemary sprigs (optional) 

1/4 cup  fresh basil leaves 

1 tblsp  fresh rosemary leaves or 1 tsp dried

8 oz     corkscrew pasta, cooked and drained 

2 cups   cooked chicken, cut in strips 

1/2 cup  sliced green onion 

1/2 cup  freshly grated parmesan cheese 

2/3 cup  chopped walnuts 

salt and pepper to taste

lettuce leaves

Instructions:
Separate cloves of garlic and drop into boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and peel.  Place peeled cloves in small saucepan with oil and optional rosemary sprigs.  Cook gently, covered, stirring occasionally, for about 25 minutes or until garlic is tender.  Discard rosemary sprigs and puree garlic with 1/2 cup of the olive oil, basil, and the rosemary leaves.

Place pasta in large bowl and add garlic puree, chicken, onion, Parmesan, salt and pepper.  Mix thoroughly.  Add more olive oil if needed to moisten salad.

Let salad sit for 1 hour a room temperature (provided its not a hot room that will invite bacteria to go nuts!) or refrigerate, returning mixture to room temperature before serving.  Toast walnuts in 375-degree oven for 10 minutes.  Stir into the salad and serve over a mix of crisp, chilled lettuces.

Note:
The large amount of garlic, cooked slowly in rosemary-scented olive oil, develops superb flavor.