It is not the best idea to read this post if you are on a diet, or thinking to start one soon 🙂 However, healthier replacements – at the bottom, I tried!!

Ingredients:

• Penne pasta
• Olive oil
• 1 stem of sage
• 1 stem of rosemary
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic paste
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1/2 tbsp butter (small slice)
• 1.5 cups milk
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup pasta water (keep it from boiling the pasta)
• 1/2 cup Parmesan
• Salt/pepper
• Basil leaves
• Crushed red pepper (optional but recommended)

Directions:

Cook penne pasta as instructed on box – do not overcook please 🙂

When pasta is ready, drain it but keep 1 cup of the pasta water for the sauce

Do no run water on the pasta so the sauce sticks

In a pan, add olive oil and butter when bubbly add the stems of rosemary and sage.

Add the garlic paste

Mix for a little bit then you can take the stems out

Add the flour and mix with a whisk well so it does not become lumpy

Add salt and pepper to taste (around 1/2 tsp each for me)

Add the Italian seasoning

Add the milk and heavy whipping cream slowly.

Add 1 cup of pasta water and mix the sauce

Now add the pasta to the sauce

Add the parmesan cheese and fresh basil

If you are really really bad, mix 1 tbsp of olive oil and crushed red pepper and top that dish with it

For healthier options (hopefully): Change the ratio of milk and pasta water, remove the heavy whipping cream and replace with low fat cream cheese. Instead of olive oil and butter, replace with coconut or canola oil.