Shelly's Recipe

HAM AND ASPARAGUS PASTA

Category: Pasta - Meat

3/4 lb fresh asparagus or 1 (10 oz) pkg frozen asparagus
2 (14 1/2 oz) cans stewed tomatoes, cut up
1 tbsp dried parsley flakes
1/2 tsp dried oregano and basil, crushed
1/8 tsp ground red pepper
1 cup evaporated milk
10 oz pkg multicolored pasta, wagon wheel or corkscrew
6 oz cooked ham, cut into strips
1 small red or green sweet pepper, cut into strips
grated Parmesan cheese

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

Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine tomatoes and next 4 ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer sauce, uncovered, about 15 minutes or until reduce to 2 1/2 cups, stirring occasionally. Add milk, stirring constantly. Heat mixture through; do not boil.

Meanwhile, prepare pasta according to pkg direction, except add asparagus, ham and sweet pepper to boiling water during last 4 minutes of cooking time. Drain pasta and vegetables.

To serve, place pasta mixture on a serving platter. Spoon sauce over pasta and serve with Parmesan cheese. Serve at once. Serves 4