Tomato & Mozzarella Pasta

Ingredients:

6 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

course salt and ground pepper

12 ounces penne rigate

1 Tbsp olive oil*

1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced

2 garlic cloves, sliced

1/4 cup snipped chives

1. Place cheese in freezer (this makes cutting it easier). Cook pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water; drain pasta and set aside.

2. In pasta pot, heat oil over med-high heat. Add cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and pasta water. Cook until cherry tomatoes soften, 2 - 4 minutes.

3. Add pasta, chilled cheese, and chives to pot, season with S&P, toss to combine.

* I use the sun-dried tomatoes in oil, so I just use a little of that oil and skip the EVOO.

I've also added a cooked, chopped chicken breast to this meal .... tasty!

And finally, I ripped this recipe off Martha. Thanks Martha.