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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MARCH 2026 33 If you have any questions, call or text me at (951) 275-7081. Easy Peas & Pasta (aka Pasta Piselli) Peas and pasta is a traditional Italian dish that cooks in about 30 minutes and uses basic pantry ingredients. It is an easy-peasy recipe. Quantities can be adjusted to suit your taste. My personal preference is for the larger amounts listed in the ingredients. Feel free to adjust the ingredients to suit your taste preferences. This is a vegetarian dish. You can add cooked, cubed meat at step 3, if desired. Prep Time: 10 min; Cook Time: 15-20 min; Total Time: 25-30 min; Serves 4-6 • 12 ounces ditalini or other small pasta (I used gemelli) • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 1 onion, finely chopped • 2-3 garlic cloves, diced (optional) • 12- 14 ounces frozen peas, thawed • 1/4 to1/2 cup freshly chopped basil leaves (optional) • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Gran Padana cheese, divided • Sea salt and freshly grated black pepper to taste INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS 1. Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling, salted water according to package directions until al dente. Remove 2 cups of pasta water with a measuring cup and set aside. Drain the remaining water from the pasta. Do not rinse the pasta aer draining. The starch on the pasta will help thicken the sauce. 2. While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes or until the onion has softened. Then add the garlic, and continue cooking for about one minute until the garlic is fragrant. 3. Add the peas, basil, and 1 cup of the reserved pasta water to the skillet. Bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook 10 minutes. 4. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, tossing until well coated. If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water to the desired consistency. Stir in 1/2 cup of the grated cheese, tossing until the pasta is well coated. Taste and adjust seasoning, with the salt and pepper to your desired taste. Sprinkle the remaining grated cheese over each serving, as desired.