Grilled Veggie Pasta

Last night was grilling night at our house. Puppy Daddy loves grilled vegetables and I love pasta, so we put them together and came up with this delicious dish. It was a side dish to a grilled pork tenderloin, but it certainly could be a main dish all by itself.







I put the veggies on skewers, but you could also use a grill pan. While the veggies are on the grill, brush them with a mixture of melted butter, extra virgin olive oil, garlic and fresh basil.  When they're done, chop them up and toss with your favorite shape of pasta, the left over basting sauce, and Parmesan cheese. YUM!






Ingredients
1/2 red onion, quartered
1 green pepper
1 zucchini, sliced
1/2 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
9 -10 mushrooms
2 TB butter, melted
2 TB extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
8 oz penne pasta, cooked to package directions
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions
Separate layers of quartered onion. Core green pepper. Chop in 2 inch squares. Skewer all veggies. Combine butter, oil, garlic and basil. Place veggie skewers on a medium high grill and brush with up to 3/4 of the butter and oil mixture. Cook veggies for 10 - 15 minutes. Turning every 5 minutes. (Use a pot holder. The skewer handles will be very hot!) Take skewers off the grill and chop veggies. Combine with pasta, what's left of the butter, oil mixture and Parmesan cheese.