Perfect Pasta and Cheese

By Lv2Cook

Ingredients

• Béchamel Sauce (see recipe)
• 2 teaspoons margarine
• 1/2 cup minced shallots
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 1 1/2 cups sliced shiitake mushroom caps (about 4 ounces)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese divided
• 1/4 cup chopped chives divided
• 3 1/2 cups uncooked penne (tubular-shaped paste)

Details

Servings 1

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350º. Prepare Béchamel Sauce; keep warm.

Melt margarine in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots; sauté 1 minute. Stir in mushrooms, salt, pepper, and garlic; sauté 3 minutes or until liquid has evaporated. Set aside.

Combine breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup cheese, and 1 tablespoon chives. Stir well; set aside. Add 1 3/4 cups cheese to Béchamel Sauce; stir until cheese melts. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain well; return pasta to pan. Add mushrooms, cheese sauce, and 3 tablespoons chives; stir well.

Spoon pasta mixture into a 3-quart casserole; sprinkle with breadcrumb mixture. Bake at 350º for 30 minutes.

Serving Size: 1 cup