If you’re looking for a quick and easy spring dinner that the kids will also love, look no further!  This pasta dish is full of flavour and has an irresistible crunch with the addition of tasty sugar snap peas!  If your crew is not into those, no problem – substitute with just about any green veggie in this dish like broccoli, zucchini, or even garden peas!

Serves 6-8 portions

Ingredients

1. 2 cups sugar snap peas, washed, strings removed, and cut into segments
2. 2 cups pasta bowties (choose whole wheat for extra fibre and nutrients)
3. 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
4. 1 cup ricotta cheese
5. 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
6. Sea salt, ground
7. Black pepper, ground
8. Juice of 1 lemon

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil
2. Cook bowties for 2 minutes less than the suggested cooking time on the package, then add sugar snaps to pasta and cook for 1 minute longer
3. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the bowties and sugar snaps
4. Add them back to the empty pot with 1/2 cup cooking water, ¼ cup grated parmesan, olive oil, and a pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper (to taste)
5. Cook for 1 minute on high heat, while mixing. Add the remaining cooking water if the mixture seems dry.
6. Turn off the heat and mix in the ricotta
7. Squeeze some lemon juice over top and finish by sprinkling the remaining ¼ cup parmesan cheese!

Recipe adapted from www.smittenkitchen.com

Nutrition Tip: Did you know that sugar snap peas are a good source of vitamins A and C, fibre, and potassium? Boost the nutritional value of any pasta dish by throwing in some colourful veggies!