Its done almost as soon as you boil the pasta.

For one recent dinner, Ina Garten came to the rescue with herBroccoli & Bow Ties.

Combined with a half pound of pasta, this makes for a light mainor a starchy vegetable side.

A split image of Ina Garten and a blue plate with her broccoli pasta recipe

Simply Recipes / Getty Images / Coco Morante

Once the water comes to a boil, everything happens very quickly.

First, yougive the florets a quick cookin salted water before you transfer them to a large bowl.

I like this style of cooking so much.

Overhead shot of a blue plate with Ina Garten’s broccoli and bowtie pasta recipe

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Inas just so great, isnt she?

This recipe goes back to those beginning days of her career.

Its featured in her 2002 cookbookBarefoot Contessa Family Styleand in a 2003 episode of Barefoot Contessa.

Overhead closeup shot of a blue plate with Ina Garten’s broccoli and bowtie pasta recipe

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

I love the idea of serving this as part of a sweet little birthday dinner at home.