Healthy Pasta Primavera

I tried this recipe from the Pillsbury monthly magazine, of all things. It was calling to me from the shelf in the grocery line. It is lower-calorie and it was delicious! The kids inhaled it! I have slightly modified it. The picture doesn't show how delightfully creamy it was, and for some reason I neglected to capture the yummy mushrooms in the photo! But the entire pan is gone now so there will be no repeated attempts!

Ingredients:
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
2 cups broccoli florets
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup cherry halved cherry tomatoes
1 cup diced, cooked chicken (optional)
2 cups halved fresh snow pea pods (optional, and did not use)
12 oz uncooked fettucini
1 1/2 cups fat-free (skim) milk
3 tbs cornstarch
1 tbs chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp dried basil leaves
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 cup light ricotta cheese
1/4 cup shredded fresh parmesan cheese (not in the green can!!)
1/2 cup chicken broth
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Directions
1. Cook and drain fettucini as directed on package. Lightly spray with Pam and toss to keep from sticking together. Cook and chop chicken.

2. Meanwhile, in a 2-quart saucepan, heat milk, cornstarch, basil, salt, and pepper to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with wire whisk. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 2-5 minutes, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens. Remove pan from heat.

3. In a blender or food processor, place 1/2 cup of the sauce, the ricotta cheese and the parmesan cheese. Cover; blend on medium-lo speed until smooth. Return mixture to remainint sauce in saucepan; stir well.

4. In a nonstick pot, heat broth to boiling over medium-hgh heat. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add mushrooms, broccoli and onions; cover and cook 4 minutes. Add tomatoes (and pea pods, if used); cook 1 minute longer. Add sauce and cooked fettucine; heat until hot. Transfer to serving platter if desired, and sprinkle with additional fresh parmesan cheese.

*optional items: one option called for 1/2 cup more milk. I can agree with that. Also, asparagus can be substituted for the broccoli or peapods.