Try This! - PASTA!!

It is time again for Girlymama's Try This carnival, which is held on the first Thursday of each month.

This month's theme is PASTA! Oh how I love Pasta...I truly do. So many things are made better with pasta.

So, I wanted to do the simplest pasta "dish" I make, and one that the my kids (and me, who am I kidding) would eat everyday if we could.

Parmesan Butter Noddles

- Pasta of any shape or size, we use small shells or egg noodles the most. The amount depends on how much the people will eat, no exact amount here.
- Butter
- Parmesan - same as pasta, I use a bunch because it is just wonderful.

Cook pasta as directed on package, and drain. Make sure it is still warm, to melt the butter and cheese.

Put in the bowl/on the plate you will be using. It doesn't taste the same, something about how the butter coats in large amounts of pasta.

Add butter, you can do as little or as much as you want with this. I do a medium amount, about 1 teaspoon per bowl.

Add cheese - and oh how we add it in this house! We have been known to go through half a container with this meal for three of us.

Stir and Eat!

*Additions - I do this with chicken or shrimp a lot, and you can add any spices you might want.

So very simple, I feel like I am cheating...so here's another one that is more involved. This is one that I got out of my Food Network "How to Boil Water" cookbook**, and have made it once and love it!

Outside the Box Pasta Pie*
-1 teaspoon Kosher Salt (for pasta water)
-8 ounces of Penne or Penne Rigate
-1/2 cup milk
- 2 Large eggs
-1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
-Dash Worcestershire sauce
-Pinch nutmeg
-Fresh Cracked Pepper
- 2 Slices Bacon
- 1/2 Medium onion
- 1/4 cup drained sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, plus a little more for greasing your baking dish (IMPORTANT!)
- 2 Cups broccoli - frozen is easiest, cooks better in the dish
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 2 cup cheddar cheese shredded

Preheat your oven to 350, cook pasta for about 6-8 minutes. It will continue to cook when it bakes, so you don't want it all the way done.

While the pasta is cooking, whisk together eggs, milk, mustard, Worcestershire, nutmeg and black pepper. Drain pasta and let cook for about 5 minutes, add to mixture.

Slice bacon into thin strips, chop onion (not to small) and sun dried tomatoes. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook the bacon until it just begins to crisp, add onion, broccoli and tomatoes to saucepan. Season with salt, pepper and cook until onion is tender. Add to above mixture, also adding cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese. Stir until cheese is melted

Grease baking dish and butter and mound the pasta in dish (I like having a peak in the middle). Add remaining cheese to top and bake for 25 minutes. Serve warm.

*Additions: I have done this adding chicken and even some turkey before, so good and an entire meal (great for reheating for work too!).

** I LOVE this cookbook. I can never remember how to boil an egg, or how long to cook one for if I want it runny. I would normally call Ma, but I felt like an idiot. Now, I can feel that way without having to let her know! This book is wonderful!!