Pasta Trieste (Pasta Trst)

1 pound box of bow tie pasta (farfalle)

1 small box frozen peas

1 cooked boneless ham slice diced into small pieces 

1 small onion peeled, chopped, and sautéed in margarine or oil until translucent 

1 cup grated parmesan cheese or one large Kraft shaker grated parmesan cheese

1 clove of garlic finely chopped or 1 teaspoon garlic powder (not salt)

black pepper

Cook pasta per directions on the box and at same time sauté onion. When onions are translucent add the peas and ham. When peas are warmed and slightly tender, set aside while you drain pasta retaining at least 1/2 cup pasta water. Pour peas, ham, and onions into the pasta and mix. Start adding the cheese and mix slowly until cheese melts and well blended. If mixture thickens, add a little of the pasta water to thin out. Keep adding cheese until the mixture is slightly thickened while saving some cheese for garnish. Add black pepper to taste. No salt needed since the cheese is salty.

Garnish with remaining cheese. Serve immediately. For variation, you can add some capers and black olives to the pasta, they as well have plenty of salt.

NOTE: You can find pre-packaged cubed ham (as seen in the photo) in your local super market. The one I buy is Hormel and is vacuum-packed with water. I use the whole package but I drain the water out before adding it to the recipe. It really saves some time and money!

My grandmother Dorothy made this for us as a quick lunch or supper. She said it is a Slovenian recipe that was very popular amongst workers in the fields. She often cooked big pots of it for the local steelworkers in Duquesne, Pennsylvania that "Djedo" would invite home. After the meal and lots of Slivovitz, out came the tamburas and accordion and the party began! Happy memories of days gone by. I simplified it by using frozen peas instead of fresh and boxed pasta instead of home made. She said pasta is very popular in the former Yugoslavia because it is a simple inexpensive dish to make and you can add anything to it to be creative for a hearty meal.