vegetable pasta salad with goat cheese

Ingredients

• 8 ounces uncooked strozzapreti or other short pasta
• 1 1/2 cups asparagus, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup cremini mushrooms sliced
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
• 3 tablespoons small fresh basil leaves
• 2 tablespoons pitted kalamata olives. halved
• 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves
• 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 3 ounces goat or feta cheese, sliced
• 2 tablespoons pecans, coarsely chopped and toasted