• Fast

Ingredients

1. 5 scallions, white and light-green parts only
2. 6 tablespoons chopped reconstituted sun-dried tomato halves (about 12 halves)
3. 1 cup light cream or half-and-half
4. 1 pound bow ties
5. 1 teaspoon salt
6. 1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
7. 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

1. In a blender or food processor, puree the scallions and sun-dried tomatoes with 1/2 cup of the cream.
2. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the bow ties until just done, about 15 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and toss with the puree, the remaining 1/2 cup cream, 1/3 cup of the reserved pasta water, the salt, pepper, and parsley. If the sauce seems too thick, thin it by adding more of the reserved pasta water.

Notes

Variation

Bow Ties with Sun-Dried Tomato and Herb Cream An equal quantity of chopped fresh basil or chives or 2 tablespoons of tarragon would be a good alternative or addition to the parsley.

Reconstituting Sun-Dried Tomatoes

In a small pan, bring enough water to a boil to cover the dried tomatoes. Add the tomatoes, then remove from the heat and let steep in the hot water for about 5 minutes. Drain. You can also use drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for this recipe. Since they're already soft, you don't have to reconstitute them.