Junk Pasta

Junk Pasta is one of my all time favorite dishes! What is junk pasta you ask? Well, I'll tell you . . .

Junk pasta is a combination of vegetables, cheeses, meats and other assorted odds and ends. You can throw in 5 ingredients or 10 . . . doesn't matter! Junk pasta is a compilation of everything you want (or feel like at that moment). I'll list ONE of my many junk pasta recipes below, but don't be shy! The sky is the limit - this is definitely the mix and match of pastas.

Ingredients:

• Broccoli 
• Fresh Spinach 
• Black Olives (pitted and sliced)
• Mushrooms (any kind your little heart desires)
• Artichoke Hearts
• Garlic (4 cloves, chopped)
• Fresh Grated Cheese
• Goat Cheese
• 1/4 lb. Chopped Prosciutto or Bacon
  
• Olive Oil
• Red Pepper Flakes
  
• Pasta (any shape, size or color or a combination)

Steam the broccoli about 10 minutes or so. Coat the bottom of a large non-stick pan with olive oil and saute the garlic (you can throw in onions and shallots as well if  you'd like). Add mushrooms and cook until tender. Once the mushrooms are done, add the steamed broccoli, spinach, olives, artichoke hearts and whatever else you've chosen and continue to stir over medium heat until all ingredients are hot. Add red pepper flakes (a pinch) and salt and pepper to taste.

In a separate small pan (while the vegetables are cooking), brown the prosciutto (or bacon) until crisp, add to vegetables.

Cook and drain pasta according to directions. Strain and put back into cooking pot.

About a minute or so prior to pasta being done, add goat cheese (I use about 4-5 good size 'clumps') to vegetable mix and stir until thoroughly melted.

Add vegetables and any liquid from the frying pan to the pasta and stir.

Serve hot topped with fresh grated cheese.

Delicious!!!

NOTE: Don't be afraid to experiment with 'junk pasta', it's all about you! You can add: capers, chick peas, ham, sausage, escarole, green peppers, etc. It all depends on your taste! There is no right - or wrong way to make this, so go crazy!

Enjoy.