I’ve always loved cooking shows. When my oldest was a toddler I’d watch Jacque Peppin on PBS, followed by Great Chefs of the West. My son loved the music show so much, he’d stand in front of the TV and dance. Even now thirty-two years later, I can still close my eyes and see him bouncing to the theme.
As I started writing this, I realized how long the list of series I’ve enjoyed over the years is. Cupcake Wars or any holiday season war. The Next Food Network Star. Top Chef. Chopped. (You know that one. Where they give you a basket of ingredients such as mushrooms, some kind of cheese, sausage, and marshmallow fluff and tell you to make an appetizer. ?) Beat Bobby Flay. (We got our favorite spaghetti and meatballs recipe from an episode of that show.) But I think our favorite has to be Iron Chefs America. My youngest son who often cooked with me, would pretend we were on an episode. He would choose the “secret ingredient” and we would joke about how we were incorporating it into our dish.
When we fillies came up with the idea to do Cowgirls in the Kitchen, sharing recipes with four or less ingredients, I was a bit concerned. It’s not that I don’t have wonderful recipes. I do, but ones with four or less ingredients? Ah, no. So, I did what I always do. I wandered around the house in a panic, talking to any family members who would listen and the dogs who always listen on how I had no idea what to do.
Thankfully my youngest son shared this recipe with me, Cacio e Pepe, which means cheese and pepper. made with ingredients most people have on hand. I hope you enjoy it.
Ingredients:
8 oz spaghetti
2 Tbsp butter
½ C grated parmesan cheese
½ tsp cracked pepper
Directions:
Bring salted water to a boil and cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain pasta, but reserve 2/3 C pasta water.
Return pasta to the pot, add butter and pasta water. Cook over low heat until butter is melted. Add grated cheese and pepper. Toss until cheese melts and a creamy sauce forms.
Top with more grated cheese before serving.
We added grilled chicken, a dark green salad and garlic break to round out the meal.
Julie Benson has written five novels for Harlequin American, and her Wishing, Texas series is available from Tule Publishing. Now that her three sons have left the nest in Dallas, when she isn't writing, Julie spends her time working on home improvement projects, rescuing dogs, and visiting Texas wineries with her husband. Visit her at www.juliebenson.net.
Yummy recipe.
Our local cupcake shop won on Cupcake Wars.
I love Cupcake Wars. Some of those ingredients are pretty wild, too Denise. I’m never sure about the savory ones.
I think ours only sells sweet.
That’s cool Denise! I love four ingredients! Anything simple to cook, I love! LOL
Tracy, this recipe really was fast to cook, too. Not counting cooking the pasta, it took five minutes.
yeah not much on the 4 ingredients or less, but place hamburger buns open faced in an 8X8 glass pan, pour a can of chili over them, cover with shredded cheese and microwave until bubbly 3-4 minutes – yummy quick supper with a salad!
A nice and simple recipe. I love to try new recipes.
I’m always looking for new ones to try, too, and the simpler the better!
Oh, my goodness. Why have I never had pasta made this way before? I’m definitely going to make this. Thx, Julie!!
I hope you enjoy it, Pam.
I love this recipe! My mom used to make this for us for lunch quite often. She’d switch it up a little sometimes by using Greek Seasoning instead of just pepper. So yummy!
Christy, thanks for the suggestion to add different spices. Your mom was a smart woman and sounds like a good cook.
Yum, thanks for the recipe. Growing up (oldest of five children) mom learned how to stretch many foods. One was pasta side dish and she would come up with many different ways of making it so yummy. And it was filling. When I got married I learned from her, she would just take what she had on hand, many leftovers and just put them together. Growing up on a farm, it was important to have a full belly for either school or for working on the farm. I got married and live in the suburbs now. When our son went into cub scouts and boy scouts, he loved to cook. He cooked at home and when we went camping. When he got into Boy Scouts, the other boys didnt like to cook. Hence they burned a lot of food. Well my young man loved to eat and not burnt food. LOL So he got to where he would ask the leader what was being made and he would bring his own spices and such to make it a really great meal. The leader put him in charge of helping the other boys cook well and pay attention. And our son had a blast teaching the other boys.
Lori, my grandmother taught my mother and me how to stretch a meal. She was a farm wife, too. I love the story about your son. As a mom of boys, I thought it was important they could cook, do laundry, and take care of themselves, too.
Nice! Quick and easy, too!
Trudy, my thoughts exactly!
I love learning new recipes. Looking forward to trying this one.
Barbara, with so few ingredients I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It was great with bits of chicken that we’d seasoned with salt and pepper and then cooked in olive oil.
I love anything simple, Julie, and this would be so good. I would probably add the chicken to mine. Yummy!
Thanks for sharing your recipe. My mom loves to watch all those cooking shows. Me, not so much, since I cook because I have to, not because I like to. Chopped was fun to watch. I also like Guy’s Grocery Games. I bought a Gooseberry Patch cookbook years ago. The title is Five Ingredients or Less. I liked it because the recipes were simple. It was broken down by seasons and food types (apps, sides, mains and desserts) plus it had craft and decorating ideas.
Vickie, I’m definitely going to check out the Five Ingredients or less cookbook. I can always use new simple recipes. Thanks for telling me about it.
I’ve never watched these shows, but I do love coming up with recipes that are quick and easy! A favorite here is my homemade hot fudge sauce with 2 ingredients:
Chocolate chips
Peanut butter (or other nut butter)
Combine in equal amounts in a microwave safe bowl. Melt together, & drizzle over ice cream! It almost hardens, but not quite as it cools, due to the peanut butter. I also add nuts to mine, but that is optional. Yum!
Ami, the hot fudge sounds great! I admire your skill to create recipes. I can’t do that at all!
Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Glad to do it, Debra.
Pasta is such a wonderful base for quick meals. My sister-in-law brought a dish everyone enjoyed including our 8 year old son. (“Gee, mom, Aunt Lynn is a better cook than you are.” Thanks, son.). It was also 4 ingredients. Fix a pasta like rigatoni, a jar of spaghetti sauce, diced mozzarella cheese, and diced pepperoni (or other meat if you want). Mix all together, top with shredded mozzarella, and bake until hot and browned. It is quick and easy and great to take to pot lucks.