As the weather gets a bit cooler… well at least in the evenings, I’ve found my self a little more excited to make dinner, so I will definitely be sharing more recipes over the next little while. With that said, this one in particular is great to make no matter the weather. It is, hands down, our favourite quick pasta dinner in our house. I hope you enjoy it too!

Ingredients

• 1 lb. (464 g) of whole wheat penne – we love Kamut penne from a Spud.ca, but any will do!
• The protein of your choice: 2-3 chicken breasts chicken, 10 oz. salmon, 10 oz. shrimp/ prawns work well, or a combination of the above
• 1/2 tsp or more to taste of Montreal steak spice or a spice combination of your choice
• 2 tbs of extra virgin olive oil + more for pasta water, to oil saute pans
• 3 garlic cloves, diced
• 1/4 medium onion, diced
• (optional) 1/2 tsp of chili flakes
• 1 can (approximately 400 ml) of all-natural tomato sauce
• splash of milk
• 1 tbs grated parmesean
• 1 heaping tbs butter
• 1 bell pepper, seeded and roughly chopped
• approximately 8 spears of asparagus, roughly chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Put a large pot of seasoned water on high heat. A splash of olive oil will help keep your pasta from sticking together and to the bottom of the pan. While waiting for water to boil, preheat an oiled, medium-sized sauté on medium head. Cut protein into bite size pieces, and lightly season with seasoning mix. Cut vegetables, and in a medium-sized sauce pan, heat approximately 2 tbs of olive oil on medium heat. Dice garlic and onion. Place in sauce pan, lightly season with salt. Sauté until transluscent.If adding chili flakes, do so now.

Make sure your pasta is in. Cook for 11 minutes for el dante. Remove protein once it has reached desired doneness. I set aside on a plate, and then use this same pan, lightly oiled to sauté lightly seasoned peppers and asparagus. Reduce heat on onion, garlic mixture to low. Then, add tomato sauce. Stir in milk, grated parmesan. Let simmer until pasta, and veg are done. Then top sauce with butter, and season to taste. Combine protein, noodles, and veg. Then serve.

For anyone interested, I highly recommend having an Oil Spray Pump
As a result, I end up using less oil when sautéing; I love using it to grease my baking pans, and I know exactly what’s in it as opposed to some other cooking sprays.

Bonne appetite!