A Pasta For Every Occasion

 Have you been looking for the perfect pasta? Something tasty, but healthy too? Well...I have the recipe to the dish we've all been looking for--something with protein, carbs, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. It is also easy to make, and makes a great leftover.

Here's what you will absolutely need to make this dish work:

1. Penne Pasta (I prefer Barilla Plus Multigrain)
2. Olive Oil
3. Garlic, Minced (2 cloves is ideal for 3 servings)
4. Lemon (Lemon juice works fine also)
5. Asiago cheese
6. VEGETABLES. This is up to you. My personal favorites are shittake mushrooms, artichoke hearts, roma tomatoes, broccoli, and shredded carrots. The mushrooms and tomatoes will need to be sliced.

STEP 1: Boil water in a pot. I am leaving exact quantities out because this is a very flexible recipe and most quantities can be left up to individual judgment. Add salt if desired.

STEP 2: Add pasta to boiling water and boil for about ten minutes (depending on the pasta, but cooking time is usually on the box anyways). I like my pasta al dente, so it usually takes a little less time.

STEP 3: Remove pasta from stove. Drain. Pour olive oil into a skillet (12inx4in works fine) and add garlic. Let the garlic simmer until it turns golden brown, then add mushrooms, broccoli, artichoke hearts, carrots, and tomatoes. If you want, you can add balsalmic vinegar to the tomatoes for taste.

STEP 4: After you have stirred the vegetables for a couple minutes, add pasta to the skillet and stir it for a couple more minutes so the olive oil and vegetables are evenly distributed. Remove the skillet from the stove and squeeze the lemon (or pour lemon juice) over the pasta. Add Asiago cheese, and the dish is ready to eat!

Cooking time:15-25 minutes.

If you use half of a 14.5 oz box of Barilla, 2 cloves of garlic, and 6 tbsps olive oil, 1-2 tomato(es), a small can of artichoke hearts, 1/4 cup shredded carrots, 6 tbsps lemon juice and a dozen sliced mushrooms, the dish serves 3-4 people.

It's easy to make, not too heavy, and you can change it up by using different vegetables! What more could anyone ask for?