ALPHABET PASTA RECIPES

Steps:

• Melt the butter over high heat in a saucepan. Add the shallot and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cook's Note: Be attentive to this. You don't want any brown crispy shallot edges. Reduce the heat to medium, and add 2 tablespoons butter along with the alphabet pasta. Cook, stirring often, until the pasta is coated in the butter and is light and golden, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup chicken stock, and bring everything to a boil. Let the liquid get incorporated, then once absorbed add another 2 cups or more stock about a cup at a time. Continue boiling, stirring all the while, until the pasta absorbs the stock, about 10 minutes. If the mixture becomes too thick before the pasta finishes, pour in a little more stock or water. Stir in the grated Parmesan, salt and pepper to taste. Check the pasta's consistency, and add more stock, if needed.

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, saute the carrots, celery and onion in oil until tender, 3-5 minutes. Stir in the broth, chicken and thyme. Bring to a boil. Stir in pasta. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until pasta is tender, 10 minutes. Stir in parsley.