~There are several variations that can be done with or to this recipe.  If you don't want to be a        ~"vegan", cook up a pound of chop meat, crumbling it into small pieces, drain and add to the Dutch ~oven when the pasta is just about half way from being done.  Mix well.  You could also substitute ~chopped, fresh Basil for the snipped chives.  Whatever you do, you will enjoy this dish.

   Pasta With Mushroom Sauce

  This recipe came from Cooks Country TV Show and their Cookbook.  If you like mushrooms, you will like this recipe.

  INGREDIENTS: 

 12 oz. Shitake mushrooms, stemmed.

 12 oz. white button mushrooms, trimmed.

 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter.

 Salt & Pepper.

 2 shallots, minced.

 2 Tablespoons minced fresh sage.

 4 garlic cloves, minced.

 1/4 oz. dried Porcini mushrooms rinsed and chopped fine.**

 1/2 cup dry white wine.

 4 cups of water plus 1/4 cup of hot water.

 12 oz.  Campanelle, Penne or Fusilli pasta.

 2 oz. Pecorino Romano cheese, finely grated (1 cup) plus extra for serving.

 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice.

 2 Tablespoons minced fresh chives.

 PROCEDURE:

  Coarsely chop one half of Shitake and one half of white mushrooms.  Cut the remaining         mushrooms in quarters. Melt 2 Tablespoons butter in a Dutch oven over medium high heat.

  Add all mushrooms and 3/4 teaspoon salt.  Mix well.  Cover and cook for about five minutes

  until mushrooms have released their liquid.   Uncover and continue to cook, stirring

  occasionally, until all liquid has evaporated and mushrooms start to brown,

  about ten minutes.  Add shallots, sage, garlic and Porcini mushrooms and continue to cook

  until fragrant, about one or two minutes.  Add wine, stir and cook until wine is evaporated,

  about two minutes.  Stir in four cups water, pasta and one and one quarter teaspoon of

  salt.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until

  pasta is tender, about 12 to 15 minutes.  Take pot off heat and stir in Pecorino, 1/4 cup

  hot water, lemon juice, remaining 2 Tablespoons butter and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.  Stir

  vigorously for one minute until sauce is thickened.  Season with salt and pepper to taste

  or let guests season for themselves.  Serve with extra Pecorino and snipped chives on

  table.

**  I could not find the dried Porcini mushrooms in any store around here so I ordered

  them from the Internet.