Go-To Weeknight White Bean & Kale Pasta

Jay and I braved the icy roads yesterday to get to the all-you-can eat Indian buffet and Target (two very important places in my book).  Since we had been cooped up for two days, it felt great to get out of the house.

The Ajanta lunch buffet never disappoints.

After that enormous lunch, I was not in the mood to cook an elaborate dinner.  We had some kale to use up, so I turned to one of my all-time favorite quick and easy pasta recipes.  I go through fazes where I make this practically once a week.  It is full of healthy ingredients that I almost always have on-hand in my fridge or pantry.  If you don't have any kale, you can also use fresh or frozen spinach, instead.

This meal is really basic, yet, with a nice presentation and a glass of wine, you can fool yourself into thinking you are at a fancy Italian restaurant.  Sometimes the simplest meals are the best!

Weeknight White Bean Kale Pasta
(Makes 3-4 servings)

8 ounces penne pasta (I mixed in some rotini - any type would work)
1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pinch red pepper flakes
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15 oz.) can white beans, drained and rinsed (Cannellini or Great Northern beans work well)
1 bunch kale, washed and torn into small pieces
Juice of one lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup Parmesan or Asiago cheese

Cook the pasta according to package directions in boiling salted water. When cooked, drain the pasta and reserve one half cup of cooking liquid. Set both the pasta and the water aside.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for one or two minutes, just until fragrant. Add the kale and lemon juice and cook for another couple of minutes - until kale becomes soft and bright green. Add in the white beans and heat through. Toss all ingredients together with the pasta.  You can add some of the cooking water if the mixture seems dry. Season with salt, fresh ground pepper, and Parmesan cheese.

Hardly any of the snow and ice melted yesterday, so I am off work again today!  The roads should be a lot better, so I am hoping to get out and go to the gym (gotta try and keep up with my 10k training), have lunch with a friend, and catch up on The Bachelor.  I'm so behind, I haven't even seen the overnight dates yet!  Thank goodness for snow days!