Vegetarian Pasta

I'm not a vegetarian-- I tried once and realized how ever-present meat is and that I didn't think I had the willpower. I no longer want to be one, either-- too many of those I know seem to have simple injuries that wind up being a bigger deal, hair doesn't always look healthy, and just little things that may have nothing to do with their diet but I've connected them in my brain. I do, however, love vegetables and have made a decent effort to get 3-5 servings of them and/or fruits daily. All of this is unnecessary info to introduce a simple pasta one-dish meal I created tonight and thought the menu variety-seeker in you might enjoy. Add some sausage or chicken if you aren't a vegetarian and want that extra protein. It's delicious, needs no butter or extra anything, it tastes restaurant quality, and the hardest part was probably cutting the olives! More recent recipes coming soon, but in the meantime, enjoy :)

Penne, Tomato, Mozzarrella Salad (8 servings)
1 - 16oz pkg penne pasta
1/4 C olive oil (perhaps from the fresh olives you use later)
1 sm-med size bunch chopped green onions
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C quartered cherry tomatoes
salt, pepper, other seasoning to taste
5oz mozzarella cheese, diced pretty small (so they don't melt easily)
1/2 C grated Parmesan
4oz fresh basil
12 large black olives, quartered (halved if you like the salty taste)

Optional:
1 C zucchini, or other fresh green you like, quartered
1/2 C mushrooms

Cook pasta in large pot until just tender (put a hint of rosemary in for a fresher flavor). Drain and set aside.

Heat olive oil in small saucepan. Add green onions and cook, stir occasionally, 2-3 min. Stir in garlic and cook for 2 min. Add pasta, tomatoes, zucchini, and seasoning and cook over low heat to warm through. Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan (you probably want to turn off heat here so the mozzarella doesn't melt together into a blob :). Coarsely tear basil leaves and add to pasta with olives. Serve immediately. Wash it down with a nice pinot grigio, or a glass of milk.

376 calories, 15.3g fat, 15mg cholesterol per serving