I hate Wal-Mart. I really do. I know, I know – you’re probably asking why I even go there, and I have my excuses. I refuse to buy groceries there anymore. The last time I bought cheese there, it was moldy within 3 days. And their produce is just as bad. But for other items – non-food items, some of their prices are the best. Not all of them, but some of them. I’ve got a pretty good system down now as to what is cheapest at Wal-Mart, Target or Costco. But Wal-Mart is still on that list, and I try to make it just a once a month trip because I hate it so much.
I go there after work yesterday. I had a few things to return, and I figured it would be better to do it a day after work than to brave the Saturday crowds. I walk into the store with my items to return, and am practically chastised by the older gentleman working at the entrance because one of my items didn’t have the whole UPC code on it, so he had to write out the ticket instead of scanning it. In the meantime, a family walks through and beeps at the security, but instead of just waiting, they decided to keep walking back and forth through the beeps. I don’t know, maybe they thought that whatever they had would stop beeping, or maybe they just liked the beeping sound. Either way, it was quite irritating. Then I go to stand in line to return my items. There was one person at the register, and one person in front of me in line. I stood in line for at least 20 minutes. After finally finishing there, I go to pick up a few items. I rush through the store, already having been there for longer than I wanted to. Then I go to purchase my items. Why is it that they only ever have 6 lines MAX open at Wal-Mart? And everyone’s carts are completely full, and the cashiers never seem to want to rush people through. After another 30 minutes of standing in line, I’m finally on my way.
So what does my rant against Wal-Mart have to do with this pasta? Well, by the time I got home, I was mentally and physically exhausted. And hungry. And I didn’t want to do anything elaborate. 15 minutes later, this pasta was on the table, and I was once again a happy girl.
This is a dish that practically doesn’t need a recipe. And I had everything at home, especially since I have sage in my garden this year. And it’s so easy and so delicious, a perfect choice for a rushed, tired evening.
Brown Butter and Sage Fettuccine
from Modern Classics Book 1
Serves 4
14 oz. Fettuccine
3 1/2 ounces unsalted butter
1/4 cup sage leaves
Cook fettuccine until al dente. Drain. Melt butter over medium-low heat until melted. Add sage leaves, and continue to heat until butter is browned and sage leaves have crisped. Pour the brown butter over the pasta and toss. Top with sage leaves.
**I also served mine with a good helping of Parmesan.
Brown butter and sage is one of my favorite pasta sauce to make…fast and delicious!
Crispy sage leaves in brown butter are just amazing. It is one of the first recipes I ever posted 🙂
This is one of my all time favorite meals!
Shopping for groceries at the big boys is so hard. I gave up here after seeing moldy produce one too many times. Now I know what few cheap things to get at them & get the rest at a good grocery store.
I have been wanting to make a brown butter and sage….something for a while now! For me, it feels like a fall thing – which means I have about a week, in January! LOL!This fettucine looks great!
I know, I hate walmart too! I always feel dirty and evil when I walk in there…but it does happen…
I’m so kicking my self for not growing herbs this year.. it’s the first year we have had a house and a garden, so really the first year we’ve grown anything.
This pasta is totally making me crave the Mizithra cheese and browned butter pasta from The Spaghetti Factory. I’ve had an intense craving for that for a couple weeks now! you aren’t supposed to eat soft cheeses while your pregnant.. but I just can’t give up feta cheese on salads, so I’ve pretty much nixed that whole rule! Though I do try to stick to the no deli meat rule.. Fair trade off i think! 🙂
Bravo! A classy classic.
Can I make it even if I never go to Wal-Mart? (went there a few days before Christmas one year…swore the place off for life).
I have always heard of brown butter and sage but I have never tried it. I think the crispy sage leaves really sound good!
It is a quick go to meal for us as well.
Oh and I hate Walmart period. We don’t go for any reason. Of course we have a Target down the street so that helps.
The lines at wal-mart suck butt. It is so ridiculous, maybe this is why the prices are low…becuase they are understaffed? It’s annoying but I only buy pre-packaged stuff there. Never produce and never meat.
The pasta looks great and glad you are getting to use that sage.
This sounds so delicious!!
Ooops, accidentally deleted the other one. What I SAID was, that looks totally yummy and what an EXCELLENT way to use your abundance of sage! Also, I hate grocery shopping at Wal Mart too, but their baby clothes are so cheap and very cute, too, and you’ll need those very soon! :o)
Our Walmarts don’t have groceries (with produce, etc) so I’ve never experienced a Walmart grocery store!
I just love this sort of pasta dish… I’ve done the same thing with this sauce over winter squash. Totally delicious!
Really? I love WM! I know there are some frustrations involved and if I didn’t want to save a few pennies I’d be happier at Target, but just move here and have NO OPTIONS and you will kiss the floor next time you go to WM I PROMISE!
Yum on the pasta! I love sage, but I think I already told you that.
The perfect meal for when you are tired (especially when you’ve had to deal with Wal-mart). Simple yet absolutely delicious.
Oh my LORD I also hate Wal-Mart. It’s all we have in my neck of the woods though. Wal-Mart and a grocery store. So I shop both, each week. I shop the sales at the grocery store, and produce (I won’t do Wal-Mart produce either). Then Wal-Mart for fill-in stuff and staples. It’s such a treat when I go away and get to go in Target!!!
Anywhoo, have you ever heard of The Spaghetti Factory? They have a GREAT dish…pasta with browned butter and Mizithra cheese. YUM!
the wal-mart here is dreadful, but i’ve been to some that are pretty nice. if i had this dish waiting for me on the other side, i’m sure i could summon the energy to tackle the wretched place. 🙂
This dish simplified your day and got you back to your “zen” moments and made you a happy camper…I know I would have been after braving Walmart:D
You know I love brown butter and sage! What a delicious combination.
One of these days, when I walk through security and it beeps, I’m just going to break into a run. Just to see what happens. It always beeps for no reason with me!
I’ll have to give that one a go!
Could food get any easier ??? Bless the Italians for their pasta !
And listen to me …dont go to Walmart again … hehe 😛
I know how you feel. All department stores seem to be the same. The worst is if you get stuck behind someone buying a stack of baby clothes or underwear. It takes ages to get the clothes off those cheap, tangly little hangers. Hate it!!!
I don’t hate this dish though. So simple and delicious.
Anybody who can have the ingredients for this on hand is amazing simply because I can’t keep sage in the house. Heck, I’ve even grown it and the darn plants don’t thrive like my rosemary or mint — even thyme. Love anything with brown buttah, too. But totally don’t like Wally World on any level.
I hate Walmart too and Walmart.com – They suck… so glad that I am in great company on this one!! I even wrote a post a few weeks ago on just how much i do hate them!!!
Your recipe looks great – love the combo..brown butter and sage this is one I will have to try.
I know a little piece of my soul gets sucked out everytime I walk into a Walmart but I still keep going back. I think that says more about me than it does about Walmart 🙁
Yum, I love sage and brown butter over pasta. This looks delicious!
Yum-my! This looks so good and the peanut butter cake below too 🙂
This sounds SO delsh Deb!
Rosie x
Browned butter and sage is so simple and yet so good! I like how the sage gets nice and crispy.
A sage brown butter sauce is sooooo good with pasta. A match made in heaven when perfectly done. Great job!
Not a Wal-mart fan either. In fact, I don’t think I’ve stepped in a Wal-mart for almost a year. I completely agree with you about their groceries. Anyway, I love preparing cheese ravioli this way. Yum!
Mmm, looks and sounds delicious!!
Deb, the Wal Marts here are exactly the same – and here I thought it was something Brazilian. :S
This pasta dish is really delicious, I’m glad you like it too!
That's truly bizarre. I was just remarking last night that I could make some fettucine w/ brown butter, sage, & walnuts this week, & when I get up to check foodgawker before work… behold.. there's your picture. I'll be making this tomorrow, but adding some toasted nuts. Looks good!
Ohhhh, all this talk about Spaghetti Factory and mizithra cheese is giving me taste memory flashbacks!
I really have to laugh when I see that Wal*Mart commercial about the start of football grilling season and the guy saying how he goes to Wal*Mart for quality meats. You gotta be KIDDING me!
Anyway, lovely dish. You should enter it in the Presto Pasta Nights roundup.
I can’t stand Wal-Mart either, so you are not alone on that one!
I love simple pasta dishes like this one. No recipe really needed, and all ingredients are right there!