Creamy Mushroom Penne

Mushrooms add not only a nice texture to meals, but also awesome flavor. In this dish, they provide a stock that is released when cooked which accompanies the creamy sauce in an amazing way. The result combined with the rest of the ingredients is a spicy, rich, and extremely flavorful sauce. Enjoy!

Creamy Mushroom Penne

1 pound white button mushrooms
1/2 pint heavy cream
1 pound penne
4 cloves garlic, chopped finely
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon tomato paste

Cook penne until al dente according to package instructions.

Meanwhile, chop mushrooms. Add to pot with olive oil, red pepper, 1/2 of the parsley, and garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Then, add chicken stock. Allow to saute over medium-high heat until mushrooms are cooked and liquid is released from the mushrooms. Then, add cream and salt. Cook for 5 minutes. Next, add tomato paste and stir. Switch heat to medium-low, and allow to simmer for 5-8 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to a creamy consistency (the sauce should not be watery). Add this sauce to the penne with remaining parsley, toss, serve immediately.

Serves approximately 5.

Linguine in a Tomato-Cream Sauce

Linguine pasta holds creamy sauces very well. The tomato-cream sauce is luscious, rich, and flavorful. Few ingredients are required, which makes it is a simple dish to make, even for people who don't like to cook!

Linguine in a Tomato-Cream Sauce

1/2 pint heavy cream
3 tablespoons tomato paste
4 cloves garlic, chopped finely
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, chopped
salt and black pepper
1 pound linguine

Cook linguine until al-dente according to package instructions.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan, saute garlic in extra-virgin olive oil until tender. Do not let it saute to the point of burning. Then, add heavy cream, salt, black pepper, and allow to come to a simmer. Then add the tomato paste, and stir. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes while stirring. Pour the sauce over pasta, and add the parsley. Toss, making sure the sauce and parsley are evenly incorporated. Serve immediately.

Serves approximately 5.