Orzo with Parmesan and Basil

Fill a large pot with salted water and allow it to come to a boil. When the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook for about 10 minutes or until just done. Strain the pasta with a slotted spoon and place in a serving bowl. You will need to reserve the pasta water for later.

Add the Parmesan, olive oil and basil to the hot pasta and toss together, allowing the cheese to melt. If the pasta seams too thick, add a tablespoon or two of the pasta water to thin it out a bit.

Parmesan cheese can be quite salty so be sure to taste it before adding any more. Add some fresh ground pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Everyone in my family loves to eat and cook good food, and to this day I remember my aunt making an orzo pasta dish as a side to the butter and garlic steak that went perfectly with this pasta.