Mary's Mushroom Fettuccine. (No More Politics Tonight!!)

(I just can't listen to the political news any more tonight.

I am cooking instead.)

Mary's Mushroom Fettucine.

Things you need: 

1 pound of  dried fettuccine or any pasta you prefer.

About 14 large white mushrooms.. sliced.

8 or so cherry tomatoes. I prefer heirloom cherry tomatoes. Sliced in half or thirds.

1 stick of butter. REAL butter, y'all!!

10 ounces of Parmesan cheese, grated.

1 bunch of parsley. (Not the Italian.. the regular!) Chopped.

2 1/2 cups of milk or half and half or cream or 2 percent milk.

1 tablespoon of flour.

1/2 tsp of white pepper. (Or more.. to taste.)

1 tablespoon (or more) of "Better Than Bullion" Chicken Stock.. You can also use Vegetable stock.    (found in the soup aisle.)

Smidgen of salt.

Mise En Place. (Learned that from the Food Network!) "French culinary phrase which means "putting in place" or " everything in its place". It refers to the setup required before cooking."

This all goes fairly quickly...

1. Put a dutch oven 2/3 filled with water and a smidgen of salt on to boil.

2. Make a roux. 

   a) Put 1 tablespoon flour into to small pot. 

   b) Add 1/2 cup of milk or whatever

   c) Add 1/2 tsp of white pepper

   d) Add Better than Bullion.. maybe 2 tablespoons... not much more... It gets salty.

   e) MIX well as you heat it to a thick Roux. (Medium heat, y'all!)

3. Once roux is formed add 2 cups of milk or whatever. Heat to boiling. Keep an eye out.. It will over- flow.

4. Slice the mushrooms and the tomatoes.

5. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet or wok.

6. Add mushrooms and tomatoes. Cover and simmer until mushrooms look soft and brownish. (You can add more butter if you are having a hard time getting everything coated.)

7. Add roux and milk mixture to mushrooms and tomatoes. Simmer on LOW!!

8. Chop parsley. 

9. Cook pasta according to package directions.

10. Drain pasta.

11. Rinse pasta (yes.. I know.. You aren't supposed to rinse the pasta... do it anyway.)

12. Pour pasta back into large pot. Add 1/4 stick of butter. Stir until melted.

13. ADD Mushrooms and Tomato Mixture.

14. Stir.

15. Add Parmesan cheese. Stir.

16. Add parsley.. stir.

17. Pour into a beautiful large pasta bowl and serve with bread!!

TA DA!!