pasta with snap peas, basil, and spinach... 25 minutes

the goods:

3/4 pound short, whole wheat, pasta, such as gemelli

3 garlic cloves, halved

8 ounces snap peas, halved

10 ounces baby spinach

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup heavy cream

3 ounces Parmesan, grated (3/4 cup)

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta and garlic 1 minute less than package instructions. Add snap peas and cook 30 seconds. Add spinach and basil and stir once to wilt. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.

Add cream to pot and heat over medium-high until bubbling. Return pasta mixture and 1/4 cup pasta water to pot and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Stir in Parmesan. If necessary, add remaining pasta water to create a light sauce that coats pasta. Season with salt and pepper.