Pasta Asparagus salad

Ingredients

• 8 oz. ziti macaroni
• Olive or salad oil
• 1 lb. fresh asparagus, cut into 1'' pieces
• 1/2 lb. mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 2 medium red peppers, thinly sliced
• 1 small garlic clove, cut in half
• 1 medium lemon
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
• 1/2 cup pitted small ripe olives
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon cracked pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon oregano leaves

Directions

1. Prepare ziti as label directs; drain.
2. Place ziti in a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil.
3. In a 10'' skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of oil.
4. Cook asparagus, mushrooms, peppers and garlic until tender, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard garlic.
5. From lemon, grate 1 tablespoon of the peel and squeeze 2 tablespoons of the juice.
6. To ziti in the bowl, add asparagus mixture, lemon peel, juice, olives and remaining ingredients; toss to coat well.
7. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour to blend flavors.