Wags' Wecipes - Asparagus Tomato Pasta

In this installment of Wags’ Wecipes, Sarah goes with a pasta dish. We think the vegetarians out there will like it, and it’s very appropriate for Russia as the players have had a pasta dish every meal. Wags is proud to present her Wecipe for Asparagus Tomato Pasta...enjoy!

She’s just five-foot-three, but don’t let the height fool you. On the field, U.S. Under-20 defender Sarah Wagenfuhr is a spitfire, and she brings that same enthusiasm to the kitchen. Needless to say, Wagenfuhr, known as “Wags” to her teammates, can “bring it” when it comes to making the perfect meal. After all, this is a woman who, in her U.S. Soccer bio, listed her craziest ambition as: “To be the next Martha Stewart.” So at the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship rolls on, Wagenfuhr will on occasion share her favorite recipes with Center Circle and ussoccer.com…and if they’re lucky, her teammates as well. In this installment of Wags’ Wecipes, Sarah goes with a pasta dish. We think the vegetarians out there will like it, and it’s very appropriate for Russia as the players have had a pasta dish every meal. In fact, they’ve eaten so much, several are beginning to resemble tubes of penne.

Asparagus Tomato Pasta

Ingredients:
1 rubber-banded stock of asparagus
1 14oz can of peeled diced tomatoes OR 4 large vine ripened tomatoes
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons extra light virgin olive oil
Spaghetti noodles
Dash of salt
Dash of pepper
Desired amount of Parmesan cheese

(Optional: cooked chicken or shrimp)

How to make it:
1) In a large nonstick skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil along with washed and chopped asparagus.
2) Cook until the asparagus gets a little soft, but DO NOT OVERCOOK!
3) Add tomatoes and crushed red pepper (chicken/shrimp as well if desired)
4) Cook Spaghetti as directed on the package
5) Combine noodles and tomato mixture in large bowl
6) Stir in desired amount of parmesan cheese

Note: If pasta is dry add a little more olive oil, but don't over do it!