Something Soft for Dinner

This evening after work I had an appointment for my twice yearly dentist appointment. I love the way my teeth feel after a good thorough cleaning, but wow, are my teeth sore when it's all done. With this in mind, I planned a soft, easy to chew dinner for tonight. Pasta was an easy choice. Using some mushrooms I bought last weekend and a few standard pantry items, I was able to whip up a fast, delicious, and most importantly, soft, dinner. I served this with a raw salad with stone ground mustard vinaigrette, but I really should have skipped the carrots.

Rotini with Mushrooms an Artichokes
-1 lb. rotini, cooked and drained
-olive oil
-4 cloves garlic, minced
-pinch crushed red pepper flake
-1/2 tsp dried basil
-10 oz. cremini mushrooms, sliced
-1 15 oz. can artichoke hearts, rinsed and quartered
-salt and pepper
-3/4 cup white wine
-1 tbsp Earth Balance
-juice from half a lemon
-3 tbsp parsley, chopped

-Coat the bottom of a large pan with olive oil and put over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes.
-Add the red pepper flake and basil and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until garlic is just barely starting to brown.
-Add the mushrooms to the pan and cook for 5-6 minutes, until softened.
-Add the artichoke hearts and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
-Add the wine to the pan to deglaze. Cook for 7-8 minutes to let the flavors combine. Add a little pasta water if needed.
-Just before you are finished cooking, add the Earth Balance and stir until melted.
-Toss the cooked pasta with the mushroom and artichoke mixture, lemon juice, and parsley. Serve immediately.