Fried Pasta

Yesterday, Patrick graduated from Middle School. As is family tradition on days of note, he got to choose yesterday's dinner. Given that he has the metabolism of a hyperactive hummingbird, he selected a nice light dinner consisting of fried pasta, iceberg lettuce wedge with ranch dressing and bacon bits, and the ultimate finishing touch: fudge brownies.

For those of you that have never had it, Fried Pasta is sinfully delicious. Surprisingly, there are no calories in this dish as long as you limit yourself to a single serving. So be warned: move on to that second helping and your thighs will pay a heavy price.

Only one kind of pasta will do: big, huge dumpling egg noodles. You need the big surface area of these noodles so they get nice and brown.

It also helps if you have an electric skillet. While it can be done on a stove top, it is easier to hold a steady temperature with an electric skillet. Just make sure the skillet you use has a top so that you can melt the cheese.

Pictured below is the Fried Pasta cooking before it has been turned. The garlic has been added as well as half the cheese and now the top will go on to aid in melting the cheese.

Ingredients
16 ounces Creamette Dumpling Egg Noodles
1/4 cup table salt
10 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 teaspoon garlic salt, divided

Directions

1. Fill a large pot with water and add 1/4 cup of table salt. Bring water to a boil.
2. Add noodles and cook for one minute less than package instructions.
3. Set skillet to 350 degrees (medium heat on stove top) and add 1/4 cup olive oil.
4. Drain pasta noodles thoroughly and spread them out on skillet.
5. Sprinkle minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt and 1/2 cup of cheese over noodles. Cover and cook for 8 minutes.
6. After 8 minutes,  sprinkle 1/4 cup of olive oil over noodles and then flip noodles over in skillet (browned noodles now face up). Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt and 1/2 cup of cheese over noodles. Cover and cook for 8-10 more minutes until bottom of noodles are well browned.
7. Use a spatula to cut the fried pasta into serving sizes and place on serving plates.

Wine pairing: Syrah or Pinot Noir