Last night's yummy dinner

was:

California Pizza Kitchen's Broccoli, Sun-Dried Tomato Fusilli

		1 lb dry fusilli pasta
		(or 2 lbs fresh fusilli)
		1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
		1 tsp kosher salt
		1/4 cup chopped fresh garlic
		2 tbl chopped fresh thyme leaves
		12 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes drained, and sliced into thin strips
		1 quart bite-size broccoli florets blanched, drained
		1 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 1/4 cup reserved for garnish

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes for dry or 3 minutes for fresh. Pasta may be cooked slightly ahead of time, rinsed and oiled and then "flashed" (reheated) in boiling water to coincide with the finishing of the sauce/topping.
• Heat olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add salt and garlic; when the garlic just begins to brown, add thyme and sun-dried tomatoes. Toss and add broccoli. When broccoli is heated through, add drained pasta (if pan is not large enough to accommodate this large load, proceed quickly in a large mixing bowl, while ingredients are still quite hot). Add 1 cup parmesan to the pan, sprinkling and tossing/stirring to mix.
• Remove from heat; serve the pasta in warm bowls with a fresh dusting of parmesan cheese.
• Fresh diced tomatoes can be added along with the broccoli if so desired.

We enjoy this about once each month. It is Julian's favorite. I often ordered this as a lunch treat when I was working (pre-kids). We found this recipe in the California Pizza Kitchen Cookbook. I was surprised the first time we made this because it tasted exactly like the restaurant's version. The fresh thyme really makes this dish and it works for Friday's in Lent, too. It usually works out that we eat meat-free several nights each week anyway and with this recipe no one misses meat. It does not comply with my wishes to be dairy free, though. Dairy is so harsh on our bodies, but I cave and prep it anyway.. Daddy does the cooking. I am sort of like "the hand" on Good Eats.

Tonight we are firing up the grill. Finally some warmer weather...Yippee!