Penne & Clams in a Parsley Butter Lemon Sauce

This is a recipe that my mom makes ALL THE TIME and is perfect for dinner after a long day at the office or a nice weekend dinner with family!  It's quick, easy and really healthy!

What you will need:

• 3- 6.5 oz cans of chopped clams and juice from two of the cans
• 6 Cloves of garlic
• 2 bottles of spray butter
• 1/4 cup of lemon juice (add to taste)
• 1 1/2 boxes (16oz each) of Penne Pasta
• 1/4 cup of parsley
• 1/4 cup of chopped dried onion
• Salt/Pepper
• Parmesan Cheese
• Matcha Powder (optional) 1tbs

Start out by filling a big pot with water, generously salting the water and covering it to boil.  While you're waiting for it to boil mince 6 cloves of garlic.  Once the garlic's done, put it in a pan with 2 tablespoons of the spray butter and soften under medium heat (but do NOT burn). 

 Once softened, put in the remaining butter, parsley, lemon, pepper, clam juice and chopped onion and return to the heat.   I usually add the lemon to taste, most of the time I end up with around a 1/4 cup, but I start out adding a little at a time and tasting till it's what I like. 

** I wouldn't recommend using "real" butter for this, it tends to get greasy tasting and doesn't have the right consistency**

Bring the heat up to medium-medium high and bring to a soft boil then turn the heat to low until the pasta's done. 

**DO NOT PUT IN THE CHOPPED CLAMS YET-OTHERWISE THEY WILL GET OVERCOOKED AND RUBBERY**

At this time the water should be boiling so put in your penne pasta and boil until done (8-10 minutes usually). 

*** AT THIS TIME ADD THE CLAMS TO THE PARSLEY BUTTER MIXTURE TO LET WARM THROUGH***

 Strain the pasta and put it back into the pot it was boiling in.  Then add the sauce to the pasta and mix thoroughly.

Take however much you want out put it in a bowl and sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese and ENJOY!!

The pasta tastes great right away, but EVEN BETTER the next day once the pasta soaks up some of the sauce!!