this pasta is tasty, but it feels like an item you'd find on the kid's menu in an Italian restaurant. that's not to say an adult wouldn't enjoy it, sometimes eating like a kid is just what you need, and sometimes it's just the only option. like last night at 9, when I hadn't eaten dinner and the only ingredients I had were 4 different kinds of pasta, half a stick of butter and some Parmesan-Romano from Trader Joe's. I remembered this Mark Bittman article I'd read a while back about a favorite pasta of his with those ingredients, it sounded perfect. I would recommend it for anytime you need a quick meal and are running low on food supplies.
Here's what you'll need:
SPAGHETTI WITH BUTTER & PARMESAN
From Mark Bittman's
How to Cook Everything
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound of any pasta (he uses spaghetti, I used bow ties)
1/2 to 3/4 stick butter
1 cup fresh Parmesan cheese
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until tender, but not mushy and drain it. Reserve some of the pasta water for later. Toss the pasta with butter, add a little of the water to thin the sauce. Toss with the Parmesan. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve with more Parmesan at the table.
