Fresh Asparagus Penne

Sweet Basil Farm's recipe of the week, using in season farm fresh ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups uncooked penne pasta

12 asparagus spears

12 cherry tomatoes

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

3/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided

1 tablespoon minced shallots

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp. of fresh, shredded rosemary, thyme and basil

4 crumbled bay leaves

1 1/2 teaspoons honey

1/2 cup pitted olives, halved

2 cups baby arugula

1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled goat or bleu cheese

2 lbs. of cooked, shredded chicken (Optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. Cook pasta according to package directions.

3. Place asparagus and tomatoes on a jelly-roll pan. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt,1/4 teaspoon black pepper and herbs. Toss gently to coat; arrange asparagus and tomato mixture in a single layer. Bake at 400° for 6 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender. Remove asparagus from pan. Place pan back in oven, and bake tomatoes an additional 4 minutes. Remove tomatoes from pan; let asparagus and tomatoes stand 10 minutes. Cut asparagus into 1-inch lengths; halve tomatoes.

If you enjoyed this recipe, want to know more about this or other related interesting topics, please like and share this article. Be sure to like us, so you don’t miss anything, we are Sweet Basil Farm & Gardens, on Facebook and other social media. We are a local producer of farm fresh fruits and vegetables and members of the American Poultry Association, licensed by the Georgia Dept. of Agriculture as Poultry Dealers and Brokers, and a proud member of the Georgia Grown program, a division of the Georgia Dept. of Agriculture. We also breed, sell and ship poultry, pet pigs, bearded irises and much more. We have an 80 acre working farm, putting great emphasis on all natural gardening and livestock management practices. An 1840s general store is situated on our property, and serves as our on-site farmer’s market. Conveniently located off of Interstate 75 near the Johnstonville Rd exit (#193).  We are six miles west, located in Barnesville, Lamar County, Georgia.

Special thanks for helpful information, as well as contributions from J. David Matthews, of Barnesville, Georgia in preparation of this recipe.