Vegetarian Pasta with Lemon Cream Sauce

     Usually, I just don't understand vegetarians. I'm skeptical of both the believed health benefits and of what one person's ethical protest is going to do for animal rights, but I will admit that sometimes it's good to cut back, so once in a blue moon, I do make vegetarian meals by choice. Plus, I don't want to alienate any of my readers, so this is my attempt at reaching out. I think everyone who tries this recipe will find that they don't even miss the meat because there is already plenty of flavor without it. It's fresh and light for summer and is another 30 minute meal.

INGREDIENTS:
4 servings of medium shell or penne pasta
1/2 bunch of fresh asparagus
8oz fresh sliced mushrooms
1 small tomato
1/2 small onion
1 large garlic clove
juice and zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup white wine
2-3 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup shredded parmesan plus extra for serving

DIRECTIONS:
1. Boil the pasta according to the directions on the box.
2. Wash and chop all the veggies. You can decide how small you want the asparagus, but everything else should be self-explanatory.
3. Heat a little olive oil and melt the butter in a pan. Sauté the onions, garlic, and mushrooms on medium heat until the onions are clear and the mushrooms brown a little.

Time for a mini rant: There should be no complaints about not liking mushrooms in this recipe. They will absorb all the other wonderful flavors and won't even taste like mushrooms. In fact, my dad, who usually hates them, ate everything without protest.

4. Add the asparagus to the pan and cook for about 3 more minutes. Next, add the tomatoes. (They're just for color, you're not attempting to make tomato sauce.) Then, add the lemon juice and zest, wine (ask your parents), and milk.
5. Bring this to a boil and quickly stir in a little flour at a time until the sauce thickens. Finally, stir in a handful or two of shredded parmesan (preferably not the kind from a shaker.)

6. Stir this well and let it simmer for a couple more minutes, then serve it over the pasta, add more parmesan, and enjoy!

And that marks the last day of crummy iphone pictures! Come back tomorrow for something that's hopefully a little more visually appealing!