Pesto Penne with Roasted Red Pepper

Hi internet,

This is something I threw together randomly with my friends. Enjoy!

Pesto Penne with Roasted Red Pepper

Ingredients

3 cups penne pasta

5 cups water

2 t salt

1 T pesto

1/2 onion, chopped fine

1/2 T garlic, minced

3 T olive oil

2 roasted red peppers, chopped

parmesan, salt and pepper to taste

Materials

1 large pot

1 colander

1 large skillet

1 wooden spoon/chopsticks/anything to stir the pasta

1 spatula

Directions

1. Cook the penne as directed on the package. FYI, it goes something like this: Fill the large pot with water. Put it on the stove and turn to high heat. Salt liberally. Bring to a boil. Once it's boiling, throw in the penne. Bring to a boil and watch it carefully! It may sud up. Bring it back down to a simmer for 8-10 minutes or until al dente and stir occasionally. Strain in a colander.

2. Heat the skillet at medium high heat. When the pan is hot, put in the oil. Brown the onion and garlic. Stir in the pesto. Next, stir in the roasted red peppers.

3. Mix in the penne. Stir well with the spatula so that the pasta is evenly coated. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

Here's what you should know:

- To prep the water for the pasta, salt liberally until you can just taste the salt in the water. If it tastes like the ocean, you've gone too far. I've been told that oiling the water will prevent the pasta from sticking.

- Don't burn the onion or garlic! Control the heat so that you release the aromas, but don't char the taste. You want the onion to be sweet and caramelized and the garlic to be golden.

- If you don't want to make roasted red peppers, buy them preserved in jars from the supermarket. I bought mine on sale and it will keep well in the fridge.