Browned Butter and Myzithra Pasta (Mac 'N Cheese for Grown-ups)

Short on time and need to make dinner quick? Don't want to dirty a whole pile of dishes or make something from a box? Here's a quick "from scratch" recipe that I love to make. Follow along with me and dinner will be on the table in about 30 minutes.

Step 1: Hunt and Gather

The following is everything you need to make this simple yet delicious dish:

Stove top (or equivalent)
Two pots (one large one small)
Stirring utensil
Colander (careful don't strain yourself)
Grater
Water
Pasta (about four servings give or take)
Butter (salted or non) 1/4 cup +/- (no substitutes)
Myzithra Cheese 1/8 to 1/4 cup (a hard salty cheese that is not quite like any other)
- this cheese keeps really well so go ahead and buy some next time you're out shopping.

Optional: Adorable Assistant.

Step 2: Get Cooking!

Cook pasta to your liking, or follow these basic instructions.
Boil water, add your pasta and cook it for about 7 minutes after it returns to a boil.

While the water is boiling start melting the butter over low heat.
You'll see the butter go through several stages:
Melting
Clarifying (you'll see the oil separate from the milk solids)
Browning (the milk solids will brown/caramelize) - this is what we're after.

Make sure to stir the butter frequently to keep it from burning.
You'll know it's done when it has a somewhat nutty scent and you can see the browned milk solids swimming in the bottom of the pot.
Take the pot off the stove. Be careful not to let this sit too long as it can continue cook and may burn.

By this time your pasta should be cooked and drained as well.

Step 3: Putting It All Together.

Pour the butter sauce over the pasta and stir thoroughly.
Dish out the pasta.

Grate the cheese either into a separate bowl or directly onto each dish.