Browned Butter + Sage = Perfection

As the new school year creeps upon me, I have noticed my schedule already changing with the preparations of my new classroom. When one gets busy, one must also get crafty with EASY meals. There are so many nights during the school year that I actually have to muster up the thought of getting back on my feet to prepare a gourmet meal. If any of this sounds familiar to you, let me tell you a little secret...I have discovered the EASIEST meal that actually tastes like it came straight from Emeril's kitchen.

Busy housewife, I'd like to introduce you to browned butter. Browned butter, meet this housewife. She is in dire need of your simplicity and tasteful delight. Enough with the meet 'n greet, let's get down to brown business. When you brown butter, it becomes nutty and extremely aromatic. Add a few sage leaves and lemon juice and you will be dancing all over the kitchen. Your taste buds will most likely explode and it may even make a grown man cry...okay, actually I could just cry...That is how amazing this pan sauce is. Toss it with your favorite pasta or drizzle it over some cheesy stuffed ravioli. Your whole family will feel fancy in no time.


Ingredients:

* Pasta of your choice
* 4 tablespoons butter
* 6 sage leaves
* 1/2 lemon, juiced
* 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano, mi favorito. ;)

Directions

While your pasta cooks, melt butter in a 12 to 14-inch saute pan and continue cooking until golden brown color appears in the thinnest liquid of the butter. Add sage leaves and remove from heat. Add lemon juice and set aside. Using tongs, gently transfer the pasta to the pan sauce...DO NOT DRAIN YOUR PASTA EVERRRRRRR!! (See note below) Sprinkle the cheese over the pasta before you toss...this will help it stick to the noodles. Spoon a small ladle of pasta water into the pan and toss to coat. Serve immediately!

Here is why I yelled at you...Pasta water is a precious commodity when cooking pasta with a homemade pan sauce. No matter what you are tossing into your pasta, a little pasta water will make the dish super creamy and will help thicken up the sauce, thanks to the starches that remain from the pasta. ENJOY!