Shrimp and Artichoke Pasta

Ingredients

• 0.5 pound pasta 
• 0.3 cup basil pesto prepared (or spinach, arugula, or kale pesto)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin 
• 1 clove garlic finely minced
• 1 pound shrimp raw deveined peeled (21 to 30 count)
• 1 cup peas frozen
• 8 ounces artichoke heart quarters frozen thawed cut in half lengthwise
• 0.3 cup green onions thinly sliced
• 0.3 cup parsley fresh minced
• 4 servings salt and pepper black freshly ground to taste

Equipment

• frying pan
• pot

Directions

1. Boil the pasta:
2. Heat a large pot of salted water (4 quarts of water, 2 tablespoons salt) on high heat until boiling.
3. Add the pasta. Cook uncovered on high heat with a vigorous boil until al dente (cooked but still a little firm), about 10 minutes or whatever your pasta package says is appropriate for al dente.
4. Reserve some pasta cooking liquid, drain pasta. Once the pasta is done, and before draining the pasta, scoop out one cup of the pasta cooking liquid and reserve.
5. Drain the pasta.
6. Toss the pasta with the pesto and keep it warm.
7. Sauté the shrimp and garlic:
8. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
9. Add the garlic and shrimp and cook, stirring, for 1 minute, until the shrimp is pink but not quite cooked through.
10. Add the peas and artichokes, lower the heat to medium, cover and cook for an additional minute.
11. Add green onions, parsley, pasta:
12. Add the green onions and parsley, reduce the heat to low.
13. Add the pasta and about a third of a cup of the reserved cooking water.
14. Toss to coat evenly.
15. Add more cooking water if the pasta is still a little too dry.
16. Season with salt and pepper.
17. Serve immediately.