Pasta With Spring Vegetables, Bathed In Cream

• 1/2 pound pasta (I like reginetti, orecchiette, or something that will aptly hold on to peas and cream)
• 1/2 pound frozen or fresh peas (I bet you could also use slices of asparagus, if you really wanted to)
• 4 scallions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon good butter (preferably salted)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, plus more to taste
• 1 pinch salt, plus more to taste
• 12 big mint leaves, or a small handful, kept whole until the last minute
• 2 tablespoons snipped chives or tarragon, optional

1. Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water-make sure it is salty like the sea! In the last minute of cooking, add your peas and scallions. I like to thaw my frozen peas at least partially, so the water comes back to a boil as quickly as possible. Reserve some pasta cooking water (about 1/2 cup), then drain the pasta, peas, and scallions into a colander with small holes (you don't want to lose all your scallion friends!).
2. Return your empty pot to the stove. Warm the butter and cream over medium-low heat, until the cream starts to bubble and the butter is totally melted. Add the drained pasta, peas, and scallions, plus the grated Parmesan (be generous; be daring) and lots of black pepper. (Really. Lots!)
3. Stir everything together, and add a bit of pasta water to thin out the sauce. Start with 1/4 cup, then add as you see fit. Taste for salt, and add a bit more-flaky preferred-if you deem it necessary.
4. Divide your creamy pasta goodness into bowls, then bunch up your mint and snip it into thin ribbons with clean kitchen scissors, scattering it as a garnish. I cut it at the last minute to keep it from turning brown; you can also just use a knife if you like. You can also add chives, or tarragon, or any combination of the three-they all play well with peas and cream.

pasta, fresh peas, scallions, butter, heavy cream, freshly cracked black pepper, salt, mint, chives

Taken from food52.com/recipes/27483-pasta-with-spring-vegetables-bathed-in-cream (may not work)