Uncle Bill's Bow Tie Pasta With Asparagus And Alfredo Sauce

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 16 cups water
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 12 ounces tomato spinach bow tie pasta
• 8 ounces fresh asparagus
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cut into pieces
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 1/16 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese

Recipe

• 1 in a large cooking pot or pasta pot, add 16 cups of water or until 3/4 full in pot.
• 2 add olive oil and salt and bring to boil.
• 3 add bow tie pasta and cook uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes or until el-dente.
• 4 in the meantime, break off tough ends of asparagus and discard.
• 5 place asparagus in a small 5" x 8" microwave safe casserole dish.
• 6 add 2 tablespoons of water to dish.
• 7 place dish in microwave and cover with a plastic round cover.
• 8 microwave on high (full power) for 4 minutes.
• 9 immediately remove from microwave, drain and immerse in cold water to cool.
• 10 when cooled, drain and cut asparagus into 1/2" pieces; set aside.
• 11 in a small frying pan, add 2 tablespoons of butter, garlic, onions and red hot pepper flakes and saute on medium-high heat for about 4 minutes or until onions are translucent, stirring often.
• 12 in a medium-size saucepan on medium-high heat, add 1/2 cup of butter, cream cheese, whipping cream and lemon juice.
• 13 bring to boil, reduce heat and cook until cheese is melted, stirring constantly.
• 14 add garlic/onion mixture to cream cheese mixture and whisk well to blend.
• 15 add nutmeg, pepper, salt and parmesan cheese and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken; stirring often.
• 16 when bow tie pasta is cooked, drain well and add cream mixture to the pasta; stir well to coat pasta.
• 17 add additional grated parmesan cheese if desired.
• 18 serve immediately with garlic bread, cooked chicken or prawns.
• 19 you may also use linguini, spaghetti, rotini and any other penne pastas.