Lemon Pine Nut Pasta

Ingredients

• 12 ounces whole wheat pasta (Spaghetti is what the original recipe called for, but I would think you could use something similar)
• 2/3 cup toasted pine nuts
• 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 3 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 lemons, juice of, and zested
• 1/4 cup parsley, chopped fine
• salt
• pepper

Directions

1. 1

   Nuts -- First, toast the pine nuts. In a small dry skillet over medium heat, toast the pine nuts until slightly brown and you can smell the aroma. The heat just brings out their flavor. Set to the side and rough chop.

2. 2

   Pasta -- Cook the pasta according to directions in good salted water. Once done, drain (reserving 2 cups of the pasta water) and just keep in the strainer while you cook the garlic. NOTE: Whole wheat makes all the difference in this dish.

3. 3

   Garlic -- In the pot you cooked the pasta in, return to the heat and add the olive oil and bring to medium heat and add the garlic and cook for one minute to lightly toast.

4. 4

   Finishing -- Now return the pasta to the pot with the garlic and oil and add the lemon juice, zest, parmesan, pine nuts, parsley, salt (go lightly, the parmesan is salty), pepper and 1 cup of the pasta water and toss until everything is well combined. You may need a bit more water until it is the consistency you like.

5. 5

   That's it. You can garnish with extra parmesan or parsley if you want, but I don't think it is necessary.