Here’s a tip for any single folks trying to impress a date: Invite them over for dinner and whip up a killer Alfredo sauce from scratch while they’re sipping a glass of wine. Pull this one off and you won’t have to be good at anything else for at least a week. The best part is it’s probably one of the easiest things you can make.1

Ingredients

1/2 lb butter (2 sticks)
1 cup half-and-half (or cream for richer)
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup (or more) parsley

Directions

While your pasta is cooking, melt the butter over medium heat in a heavy-bottomed sauce pan. Don’t use something thin and risk burning.

If the butter is completely melted before the pasta is done, turn the heat as low as it will go. You don’t want to boil it.

The timing of the next couple of steps will make or break the dish. Leave the butter over low heat until the pasta is completely done then add the cream and parsley.

Give it a quick stir and add the cheese. Turn the heat up to medium and stir quickly.

Only stir until the cheese is melted. It’s okay if the butter isn’t completely incorporated. It’s actually better if it stays a little separate — it makes it easier to stir the pasta in.

Pour half the Alfredo sauce into the pasta pot, return the pasta, then add the rest of the sauce and mix.

Add more grated Parmesan and parsley and serve.

1. You should still practice at least once on your own first. Never cook something for the first time with guests watching.

Fettucini Alfredo

By Drew | Published: January 11, 2008

Want more like this? For more recipes like this, that you can hold right in your hands, and write on, take notes, tear pages out if you want (Gosh, you're tough on books, aren't you?) you might be interested in How To Cook Like Your Grandmother, 2nd edition, Illustrated. Or to learn your way around the kitchen, check out Starting From Scratch: The Owner's Manual for Your Kitchen.