Smoked Salmon Pasta with Lemon Cream Sauce

Ingredients
1 pound pasta
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons olive oil
1-2 pounds asparagus, cut into bit size pieces
²⁄₃ cup shallots, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes
Juice from 1 lemon
Zest from 1 lemon
2 cups cream or half and half
12 to 14 ounces smoked salmon, cut into pieces

Instructions
1. Bring large pot of salted water to boil and cook pasta as instructed by packaging.  Drain well. 

2. Heat butter and oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Once butter has melted, add asparagus and shallots and cook until asparagus is starting to get tender.  Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.  Stir in lemon zest and juice then pour in cream and mix well.  Cook until heated through. 

3. Add salmon and continue cooking until salmon is heated through.  Toss with pasta then taste and season with salt and pepper if necessary. 

Comments
This recipe is from The Missing Lokness.  I love smoked salmon and this was a great way to use some up.  I enjoyed the way the flavor of the salmon permeated the rest of the dish.  Leftovers were quite tasty as well.