HAM AND ASPARAGUS PASTA

Servings: 4
Ingredients:

3/4 lb Fresh asparagus spears or
- one 10-oz. pkg. frozen
- asparagus
2 cn (14-1/2-oz.) stewed tomatoes
- cut up
1 tb Dried parsley flakes
1/2 ts Dried basil, crushed
1/2 ts Dried oregano, crushed
1/8 ts Ground red pepper (optional)
1 c  Evaporated skim milk
10-oz. multicolored pasta
- such as wagon wheel or
- corkscrew
6 oz Lean fully cooked ham, cut
- into bite-size strips
1 sm Red or green sweet pepper
- cut into strips
Grated Parmesan cheese (opt)

Snap off and discard the woody bases from the fresh asparagus, if using.
Bias-slice the asparagus into 1-inch pieces. (Or thaw and drain the frozen
asparagus.)

FOR SAUCE, in a medium saucepan combine stewed tomatoes, parsley, basil,
oregano, and ground red pepper, if desired. Bring to boiling. Simmer the
sauce, uncovered, about 15 minutes or till reduced to 2-1/2 cups, stirring
occasionally. Add the evaporated milk all at once, stirring constantly.
Heat mixture through; do not boil.

Meanwhile, prepare pasta according to package directions EXCEPT add the
asparagus, ham and sweet pepper to the boiling water during the last 4
minutes of cooking time. Drain pasta and vegetables.

To serve, place pasta mixture on a serving plater. Spoon the sauce over
the pasta. Serve with Parmesa cheese, if desired. Serve at once.

Makes 4 or 5 main-dish servings.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: 465 calories, 4 g fat, 15 meg chol.

SOURCE: Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, March 1993

—–