Ingredients Salt Dried pasta Butter Grated Parmesan Black pepper Instructions Bring a few inches of water, and a generous pinch of salt, to a boil in a saucepan. Once the water is boiling, grab a handful of long noodles about the diameter of a quarter (about 1-inch) and add it to the pot. Cook the pasta until it is flexible, but not all the way to al dente. Place a 10″ saute pan on the stove next to the pot of pasta and set the burner to medium. Add two pats of butter (2 tablespoons) and use a pasta fork to transfer the pasta to the saute pan. Pour enough of the pasta cooking water into the saute pan to come about halfway up the noodles (about 1/4 cup). Add a generous pinch of salt and cook the pasta, tossing occasionally, until al dente (or to your liking). Turn off the heat and toss with enough grated cheese to absorb the remaining liquid in the pan and form a creamy sauce. Grind plenty of black pepper onto the top of the pasta. Taste and add more salt if needed. Transfer to a plate, garnish with more cheese, and enjoy