Hot or Cold Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
2T Sliced Almonds Toasted
6oz Orzo (about 1 Cup)
3 Garlic Cloves, crushed
1lb Asparagus, cooked and cut into quarters
Zest of one lemon
1/4 C. Grated Parmesan
2T Olive Oil
3/4t Salt
1T Lemon Juice
2T Dried Cranberries

Directions:
To cook asparagus - I put about a cup of water in a pot and set it to boil. Then I add the asparagus and turn the pot down to simmer. I let it simmer until tender - I don't use the top to the pot. I also chopped the asparagus before cooking to make things easier. (HINT: to stop asparagus from cooking after you remove it from your pot, put it in a bowl of ice. This will chill it and stop the cooking process.)

Prepare orzo per package directions, drain.

Heat oil, saute garlic until soft.
Add asparagus, stir in orzo and salt and toss.
Remove from heat.

Add zest, juice, Parmesan and cranberries.
Season w/S&P
Top with toasted almonds.

Recipe from Jill Baldwin!