Finding a 30-minute dish that's tasty for Monday night yet elegant enough for a dinner party is no simple task, but this warm-weather pasta is one to fit the bill. It is gleefully easy to put together. Just toss slices of blanched asparagus with a tangle of cooked fettuccine slicked with butter. Shower with grated Parmesan and serve.




Fettuccine With Asparagus

INGREDIENTS
6 fresh asparagus spears, about 1/2 pound
10 ounces fresh fettuccine or 3/4 pound dried fettuccine
2 tablespoons butter
⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil or parsley
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
 Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste

PREPARATION
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
Cut off tough ends of asparagus spears. Cut each on the bias into 1-inch lengths. There should be about 1 1/2 cups. Rinse well and drain.
Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook about 2 minutes. Remove asparagus with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Drop the fettuccine into salted boiling water. Let cook to desired degree of doneness (cooking time will range from about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes for fresh pasta to 9 minutes or more for dried). Reserve 2 tablespoons cooking water. Drain the pasta.
Heat the butter in the pot in which the pasta was cooked. Add the asparagus pieces and the fettuccine. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add the reserved 2 tablespoons of cooking water and basil. Toss to blend. Serve hot with Parmesan cheese on the side.