Beginner dish 01.

Allergy Alert:
If you are gluten free, you'll need specific pasta for that. Also, if you are allergic to dairy use butter substitutes or top with something else. On to a more rare allergy: tomatoes. If you are allergic to tomatoes do not top with sauce. As always, no need to worry about nuts or seafood.

Dietary Needs Alert:
Jewish dietary guidelines may restrict salt options. Kosher salt may be used.

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Ingredients:

•1 box of Barilla (other brands work too)
•salt (Kosher works fine)
•half a pot of hot water
•quarter stick of butter (or butter substitute) |OR| scoop of canned Italian sauce

Directions:

• take a pot and fill it half way with hot water

• place the pot on a stove boiler

• turn the knob to high, so it can warm up-- if you have a gas stove, then first push the knob in and turn to light, until the flame has ignited, then turn to high

• add a sprinkle of salt for flavor

• wait until the water begins to boil (all the bubbles have rose to the top), then turn the knob to medium

• slowly pour in the box of pasta

• penne pasta takes 11-12 minutes to get al dente, so set the timer for 11 minutes and decide whether or not the pasta needs more at the end

• every two minutes, stir the pasta with a wooden spoon

• after the timer goes off, pull out a piece of pasta with the spoon, and feel it's texture, you should be able to squeeze and flatten it

• if ready, take the pasta off the heat

• take a strainer and place it in the sink, pour the pasta into the strainer, letting the water fall through into the sink

• if topping with butter, cut a quarter stick of butter and mix it in the pasta with the butter knife, if topping with sauce, wait until the pasta is plated

• scoop the pasta into a bowl or plate

• if topping with sauce, spoon a scoop of canned Italian sauce onto your penne pasta and mix in with a fork

• sit down, and enjoy your delicious plate of Italy!

Yields about 5 bowls