Here's another great quick and easy weeknight dinner idea: penne pasta (smooth or ridged--rigate) tossed with asparagus, some crisp, smoky pancetta (or bacon), and juicy cherry tomatoes. For a vegetarian version: substitute the pancetta with some summer squash or zucchini, sliced into half-moons. If you have leftover grilled vegetables from a BBQ or backyard cookout, use those instead It's a great way to turn them into another mealFor bolder flavor: finely mince the garlic clove instead of crushing it, and leave it in. Substitute the parsley with fresh basil leaves. For a cold pasta salad version: rinse the pasta in cold water as soon as it's al dente, then drain and toss with the other ingredients. Using sun-dried tomatoes instead of fresh will help prevent the pasta salad from becoming soggy. For this version, definitely add a bit of olive oil when tossing the ingredients together, to prevent the pasta from sticking together in clumps, and i suggest using basil rather than parsley and using minced garlic that remains in the dish since dishes have less flavor when served cold.
