Pasta Primavera

The Chef: Elizabeth

The Menu: What can be thrown together in a half hour when you're short on ideas but long on zucchini? Primavera! Today Elizabeth whipped up a quick, tasty primavera with lots of diced zucchini—courtesy of her mother's garden—diced tomatoes, tons of garlic, and a touch of balsamic vinegar, all served over brown-rice pasta. What to do when you've used all the veggies in the main dish and haven't much left for a salad? Load up on avocado! Elizabeth threw in some cherry tomatoes for color as well, which made a light, lovely salad.

The Goods: Whenever she can't think of what to make, Elizabeth's brain defaults to pasta. No matter what else you've got on hand, you can always make a simple pasta dish to feed a crowd. Maybe her Italian heritage has something to do with it, but this auto setting seems to work out. How about other go-to dishes? What do you find your hands making when your brain isn't functioning?