One day, several weeks ago, I was trying to think of creative ways to use up what seemed like a boat-load of tomatoes, zucchini, and other veggies from my in-laws’ and my parents’ gardens. Neither Jonathan nor I really loves fresh tomatoes by themselves, and one can only have tomato sandwiches with salt and vegan mayo so many times in one week. Not that I don’t love tomato sandwiches, I do love them. Alot. But, I also love pasta. ALOT. Who doesn’t??
In my plight to use up garden veggies, I discovered the following equation proved very true.
Pasta + Cooked garden veggies + olive oil = AMAZING, addictive yumminess
Today’s recipe doesn’t have zucchini in it because, frankly, I don’t have any left from the garden, and I am much too lazy to go out to the store and buy some. Basically, this recipe is just all the veggies that just happened to be in my fridge this morning. Feel free to pick and play and substitute with this basic idea.
Penne with Garden Vegetables
Ingredients
- 1/4-1/2 large onion chopped
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 bell pepper thinly sliced, then cut in half
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced
- 2 large plum tomatoes diced
- 1/3 cup black olives finely minced
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 5 basil leaves rinced and torn
- 1/2 lb penne pasta dried
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Bring large pot of water to boil. Cook penne in boiling water according to package instructions, usually about 12 minutes, with a teaspoon of olive oil to keep the pasta from sticking together. When penne is finished, drain off excess water in strainer.
- Saute onion and garlic in 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil
- When onion is nearly clear, add tomatoes, olives, and bell pepper. I usually save out a few cherry tomatoes to throw in just before taking the sauce off of the stove, in order to maintain a fresh color to the sauce.
- When tomatoes are cooked, and beginning to form a sauce, add sugar, and salt to taste.
- With burner turned off, add torn basil leaves to mixture, letting them wilt slightly prior to serving over cooked penne.
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