The Lean Veggie - Easy pasta salad /stir fry

The ingredients list for this recipe may seem long, but the actual dish is very easy to make and tastes like gourmet italian food with a touch of meditteranean! Some of the ingredients are optional. You can also add more veggies and make this a hearty meal!

For the pasta:
* In a big microwaveable dish, add 1 cup pasta (i used macaroni shells, you can even use penne, fusilini or tortelini), 2 cups water, 1 tsp salt
* Cover and cook till pasta is done (about 15 minutes). You can also prepare this on the stove top if you like
* When pasta is done, wash in cold water and drain completely

For the dressing:
* In a big bowl, whisk together 2 tbsps olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp cracked pepper powder
* Chop 1/4 cup olives (greeen) roughly and add to above olive oil mixture
* Mix in the crumbled feta cheese
* Finely chop 5 basil leaves and add to the bowl (optional)

For the veggi stir fry:
* Prepare 1/2 cup finely chopped onion and chop 1 clove garlic
* Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a non stick pan, and saute onion and garlic till soft (add a pinch of salt)
* Stir in 1/4 cup frozen chopped spinach and 1 chopped roma tomato
* Add salt to taste, 1 tsp dried italian herbs and 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
* Cook till raw tomato smell disapppears, but do not let the mixture over cook. Tomatoes should not be pulpy

To finish up the dish:
* Mix pasta with the veggi stir fry, and mix in 1 tbsp parmesan cheese (optional)
* Transfer the pasta and veggi mixture to the big bowl where you have prepared the olive oil - feta cheese dressing
* Mix thoroughly. Check the taste, add some more salt and pepper if you like.
* If you like, add some basil pesto salad dressing