Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      cup           warm water
     1/2  cup           dried tomatoes -- sliced into strips
     3/4  pound         asparagus -- cut diagonally 1"
                        -- pcs
   1      12 oz pkg     farfale -- (bowtie pasta)
   2      tablespoons   olive oil
   1      small         onion -- chopped
   2      cloves        garlic -- finely chopped
   1      tablespoon    fresh thyme leaves -- (or 1 t dried)
     1/4  teaspoon      salt
     1/4  pound         smoked mozzarella -- cut in sm. cubes

Preparation:

Soak dried tomato strips in the cup of warm water for 3-5 min until they begin to soften. Drain and reserve the liquid. Heat 5" of water to boiling in large saucepot. Add the asparagus and cook 3 minutes until tender but still crisp. Remove to a bowl and set aside. In the same of pot of boiling water, cook the pasta. While it's cooking: Heat 1 T olive oil over med. heat; add onion and sauté‚5 minutes Reduce heat to low; add garlic and sauté‚3 minutes Stir in tomato liquid, asparagus, thyme leaves and salt. Cook for 5 minutes Drain pasta; return it to the pot and toss with remaining 1 T olive oil. Place on serving platter and top with tomato-asparagus mixture and mozzarella. Serve immediately; or to serve cold, cool to room temperature, cover and refrigerate