Impromptu Entertaining: Truffle Baked Penne Alfredo

The important thing to remember when you’re caught in an “Impromptu Entertaining” situation is to assess your pantry and get creative!  Look at what flavors could work well together and what ingredient you have on hand that could make the dish shine.  And as much as I am a huge fan of making things from scratch, sometimes it means using a pre-made element to save on time and/or a trip to the grocery store.  For example, I love making my own alfredo sauce but I don’t always have the ingredients on hand.  So, I tend to keep a jar of Newman’s Alfredo Sauce in the pantry “just in case”.  Then, if I am out of cream (or whatever), I have it on hand to doctor up and make my own.  This comes in handy when we have unexpected guests.  That’s how I created Truffle Baked Penne Alfredo!

Truffle Baked Penne Alfredo

• 9 oz dry penne pasta
• 1/2 jar alfredo sauce
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• Cracked pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp truffle oil, plus more for drizzle
• Aleppo red pepper flakes, to taste
• Bread crumbs
• Parmesan cheese, shredded

Preheat oven broiler.

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain in a colander over a bowl and set aside.

Heat alfredo sauce in a medium sauce pan over low heat.  Add minced garlic, 1 tsp truffle oil, and cracked pepper.  Stir and heat thoroughly.

Add pasta into sauce pan and toss with alfredo sauce to coat.

Put pasta mixture into a baking dish.  Cover entire pasta dish with bread crumbs.  Sprinkle red pepper flakes over the bread crumbs to desired “heat”.

Top with shredded parmesan cheese.

Broil in oven for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

Remove from oven and drizzle truffle oil over the baked pasta.  **Please note that a little truffle oil goes a long way.  You don’t need a lot and in fact, too much can over-power a dish.**

Serve immediately.