Creamy Pasta with Asparagus, Walnuts, Mushrooms, and Marscopone Cheese

 This is another favorite recipe from Giada de Laurentis.  It's a very quick pasta, and served with grilled chicken, makes for a very satisfying meal.  Or you can just keep it vegetarian.  I've also used ordinary mushroom in place of the cremini.  You can substitute the asparagus with another vegetable as well.

Ingredients

• 1 pound farfalle pasta
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 pound cremini mushrooms, thickly sliced
• 1 pound thin asparagus, trimmed, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
• 1 cup mascarpone cheese
• Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• 3/4 cup walnuts, toasted
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• salt to taste

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the farfalle and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and saute until tender and most of the juices have evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the asparagus and saute until the asparagus is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add the farfalle. Stir in the mascarpone and nutmeg and toss until the cheese coats the pasta, adding the reserved cooking liquid 1/4 cup at a time to moisten. Stir in 1/2 cup of walnuts. Season the pasta, to taste, with salt and pepper. Mound the pasta in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and remaining 1/4 cup of walnuts. Serve