Assignment 20 - Lia Jacobs - how to make buttered noodles

To preface the steps to making very good buttered noodles, I feel obligated to say why I am so talented at making them. Because I have been a rather picky vegetarian since I was 4, buttered noodles have been a staple in my diet. Don't worry, now I don't have them more than once a week, but in elementary school, I made them at least every other day.

1. Get an appropriately sized pot and fill it up a little over halfway, but be careful not to get it too full so that the water won't spill over the edge.
2. Set this pot of water on the stove, turn the heat on as high as it will go and put in salt (just a tad more than you think you should).
3. Once the water is boiling vigorously, put in the noodles of your choice so that there is about half an inch between the pasta and the top of the water. Give it a good stir and turn the heat down to medium.
4. Cook the noodles for one minute less than the time listed on the box so that it still retains a nice firmness. Overcooked noodles are too slimy for my personal taste.
5. Once done cooking, pour the noodles into a strainer and shake them for about 15 seconds to get off most, but not all, of the excess water.
6. Get a bowl and put in as many noodles as you desire, making sure to leave enough room at the top to be able to stir it after you add more ingredients.
7. After your noodles are in the bowl, add three shakes of garlic powder, two shakes of oregano, and if you're feeling adventurous maybe a bit of parsley. The amounts will vary based on how many noodles you have, so make sure to add these spices little by little and taste along the way. Too much of any of these ingredients will create an offputting taste, ruining the whole experience.
8. Next, find your favorite butter and grated parmesan cheese. Just like with the salt, you want to put in a little more butter than you think is necessary. Add in some butter, then stir completely. Once all of the noodles have a slight glisten you have put in enough butter. This is, of course, a guide for buttered noodles. The amount of parmesan is also a personal choice, but usually, I put on enough for each piece to have a light dusting. You'll want to give the noodles another good stir so all of the cheese isn't concentrated on the top.
9. Every time I stir noodles, butter somehow ends up all over the fork and on the sides of the dish, so I advise that you grab a paper towel and wipe this up before you start eating.
10. After all of this hard work, you can finally sit down and enjoy perfect buttered noodles.