Everyone’s Favorite Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 1/4 lb penne pasta
• 1 bunch asparagus cut into 1" pieces, discard bottom 2" of asparagus
• 3 green onions, sliced including green stems
• 2 tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
• 3 TBS fresh lemon juice
• 1 TBS balsamic vinegar
• 3 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package. Just before pasta is done add asparagus to water and pasta. Cook 2 additional minutes. Drain pasta/asparagus and cool. Add remaining ingredients except cheese. Stir. Put on plates and top with cheese. 

*So many think they can't eat pasta if they want to lose weight. What I do when eating pasta is to make sure I have more vegetables and protein than pasta. Pasta is more like the condiment than the main part!

Serves: 4