Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      small         broccoli -- cut into florets,
                        -- leave short stems
  10                    florets cauliflower
  14                    asparagus tips
     1/2  cup           sliced black olives
   1      cup           fresh or frozen peas
  12      tablespoons   butter
   1      pinch         nutmeg
   4                    fresh basil leaves -- chopped
  10      pieces        dried porcini mushrooms -- soak in sherry;
                        -- chop
   1 1/2  pounds        fresh linguini -- cooked
     3/4  cup           heavy cream
     3/4  cup           parmesan cheese -- freshly grated
   1      pinch         salt -- to taste
   1      pinch         fresh ground white pepper
     3/4  cup           marinara sauce -- (optional)
                        dry sherry -- to soak mushrooms

Preparation:

STEP ONE: Wash and presoak porcini mushrooms in dry sherry, then chop. STEP TWO: Cook vegetables in salted boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes (only cook peas 1-1/2 minutes, no more). Drain and run under cold water. When cool, cut vegetables, except peas and olives of course, into 1-1/2-inch pieces. STEP THREE: In a saucepan, add 8-1/2 tablespoons butter, add the mushrooms, herbs, and spices and cook for 5 minutes. Add the vegetables and cook another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cream, a pinch of salt, and a generous dash of pepper and bring to a simmer for 3 minutes. STEP FOUR: Melt the remaining butter and toss the freshly cooked and drained al dente linguine in the butter until well-coated. Add the vegetable cream mixture and toss well. Add 1/2 the cheese and toss again. Serve immediately with a dash of pepper on top and grated Parmesan to the side. For a tasty and colorful variation, spoon a dollop of hot marinara sauce on the top. Tony Vallone writes of this recipe: "This pasta with vegetable dish is many times an icebox-cleaning dish at our house, with endless variations."