BOWS 'N' BEANS PASTA SALAD
8 oz. bow tie pasta
1 cup cottage cheese
2 oz. mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon cumin seed
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon chives; chopped
1 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup rice vinegar or red wine vinegar
1 can kidney beans
lettuce leaves
4 green onion tops only
1. Cut green onion tops to 1/2-inch lengths on an angle. Drain and rinse kidney beans.
2. Bring 4 cups water to boil, add pasta, return to boil, cook 11 minutes. (Check pasta at 9 minutes - it should be al dente). Drain pasta and plunge into ice cold water; drain.
3. While pasta is cooking: mix together cottage cheese, mazzarella cheese, cumin seed, cayenne pepper, chives, sage, parsley, salt, pepper and vinegar. Gently fold in 1/2 can of drained kidney beans.
4. Toss pasta with this mixture. Serve on lettuce leaves, top with remaining kidney beans and onion tops.
Yields 4 servings
CALORIES: 485; FAT: 7g.