Tuna & Sweet Pea Farfalle

15 spears asparagus, chopped

3 cups farfalle pasta, cooked al dente

12 oz canned tuna in extra virgin olive oil & lemon dill , drained & flaked (reserve the oil)

1.5 cups frozen sweet peas, thawed

2 tbsp capers (optional)

salt & pepper to taste

freshly grated Parmesan cheese

For the vinaigrette:

reserved tuna oil

2 tbsp chopped fresh dill

1 tbsp (or more) lemon/lime (I prefer lime...more flavor) - to taste

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Wrap chopped asparagus loosely in damp paper towels and microwave on high for 1 minute.

Place in a large bowl with all the remaining pasta ingredients.

Whisk together the dressing, then toss with the pasta salad.

Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Spicy Pasta

1 bulb garlic (I had it crushed & minced)
1 cup Olive oil
1 TBSP Kosher salt
1 TBSP (or more) ground black pepper
Red Pepper flakes (to your heart’s desire)

With olive oil, sauté garlic. Add salt, ground black pepper & red pepper flakes. Simmer on low/medium heat until garlic starts to cook – don’t let it get brown. You want to remove it early from the heat (avoid a bitter taste). You will use this to cook the (1) sausage and (2) mushrooms.

2 lbs spicy Italian sausage (I used Johnsonville)
Sun dried tomatoes (in oil) – I used the entire can. I love sun dried tomatoes.
Portabella mushrooms – I used 2 packs
1 can of diced tomatoes with Italian herbs
Shredded mozzarella cheese – UNLIMITED. Hehehe!
1 lb Barilla Penne pasta

Using a little bit of the garlic & oil (from above), brown the sausage. Chop well. Or if you want it chunky, you can. Depends on your preference. Tim likes it a bit chunky. Drain the fats. Add diced tomatoes & continue to cook over medium heat.
Cook the pasta.
On a separate pan, cook the mushrooms & sundried tomatoes using some of the garlic & oil mix.
(Optional) When almost done, add ½ cup dry red wine and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the mushroom mix to the sausage & tomato mix. Continue to simmer on low heat for a few minutes.
Add the pasta, sausage mix and shredded mozzarella cheese and mix well. Top with more pepper flakes. Enjoy!