Here’s one of my standby recipes that takes less than half an hour to make, uses any vegetables or leftover sauce or beans in the fridge, and is really, really good.

Ingredients (for two servings):

1 cup dry pasta (rotini or penne work well)

1 cup tomato sauce

1/2 cup chick peas

1 bunch broccoli

4 leaves of kale, chopped coarsely

a few pinches of basil (dry or fresh)

Parmesan cheese substitute (or the real thing, if so desired)

Method:

Prepare pasta as directed

In a separate pot, pour in the tomato sauce, and the chick peas, and heat over medium heat.

Add the chopped broccoli and the kale, and cover for a few minutes, to let the vegetables get soft but not mushy

Add the basil

Drain the pasta and add to the pot with all the good stuff noted above, and stir for a few moments to let the flavours blend.

Serve, adding parmesan substitute or the real thing as a topping.

You’ll note that I don’t add any oil to this recipe. I don’t think it’s necessary, but that’s just me.