MMMMMushrooms!

I love mushrooms... a LOT. I found this amazing mushroom pasta recipe in my new fave book, "Eat Well, Stay Well," which I got for a wedding present.  It is really easy, VERY delicious and filling (even one bowl filled Michael all the way up!).  Disclaimer: this is not the cheapest meal to make because shiitake mushrooms are a little pricey; but they are the centerpiece of the dish, so you really can't go without them.  Just indulge yourself every now and then :)

What you'll need for two servings:


1/2 lb stemmed and sliced shiitake mushrooms
1/2 lb sliced button mushroms
1 large clove garlic; minced
3 green onions sliced (all white parts and about 1/2 of the green stalks)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup milk (use 2% or whole; skim milk is not good in this recipe... or in any recipe as far as I'm concerned!)
whatever type of pasta you would like to use (I use angel hair because it takes no time to cook!)
Grated or shredded parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

What to do:

-In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat the olive oil until it ripples
-Add in the garlic and green onions and sautee for 1-2 minutes until the onions sweat
-Add in shiitake mushrooms and cover, stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes until they get tender
-Add in the button mushrooms and cover, stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes until those are tender
-turn the heat up to medium-high and uncover, allowing the excess juices to evaporate
-Once the fluid has evaporated, add in the flour and stir into the mushrooms until well absorbed
-Stir in the milk and let simmer, uncovered, until the milk has a nice gray color with a creamy texture
-Salt and pepper to taste
-Serve over your pasta and top with as much parmesan cheese as you'd like

There you go!! Very easy, and it can act as a stand alone dish, or you can serve it under grilled fish or chicken (if you're going the meaty route...).  I just served it with a simple Italian salad on the side and it was a big hit! Even our cat was curious about all the good smelling deliciousness :)  This is one of my favorites, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  Happy cooking!