Orecchiette with Mushrooms, Fava Beans, and Spinach

This weather has been such a tease.  Two weeks ago, I thought it was spring.  But since then, we've seen lots of clouds.  And rain.  And wind.  And today it's frickin summer.  So I'm here now to do my part in willing spring to come.  You'll see.  By sheer force of will (and some orecchiette), spring will come.  By June.  I guarantee it.

Anyhow.  On to the food.  This week, like every other week, we got BOMB stuff from our CSA.  Mushrooms!  Spinach!  Fresh fava beans!!  I was in fresh spring veggie heaven.  Fava beans are actually a pain in the butt to peel, but oh man is it worth it.  Man oh man.  And fresh fava beans are a rare opportunity, so I took advantage of them as soon as I got home.  (Does that sound dirty?)

Moving on.

This dish is so springy.  And the spring I'm talking about isn't the rainy, windy, cloudy spring that we've been experiencing here.  It's not sweltering either.  It's the cherry blossomed, rooftop grilling, bike riding (!!!!) spring that we've been looking forward to since fall ended last year.  Why wouldn't spring want to visit us when we're cooking up a dish like this?

Spring?  Are you there?

Orecchiette with Mushrooms, Fava Beans, and Spinach

1/2 pound orecchiette
1 pound white mushrooms, cleaned and thinly sliced
1 bunch spinach, rinsed and trimmed
1 pound fava beans, seeds removed from pods and pods discarded
olive oil
salt and pepper

For the fava beans, boil a pot of water.  Blanch the beans, drain, and rinse with cool water.  Carefully slip the skins off the beans and discard the skins, setting the beans aside.

Cook pasta according to instructions on package.  Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium heat.  When hot, add olive oil.  Add mushrooms and cook until tender, about 7 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.  Remove from pan and set aside.

Heat a bit more olive oil in pan and add the spinach and fava beans.  Season with a bit of salt.  Cook until spinach leaves are wilted and fava beans are just tender.  Add the mushrooms and pasta to the pan and toss together.  Check for seasoning, and add more salt and pepper if necessary.

Eat!