Pan Fried Pasta and Ricotta

I had some ricotta cheese in the fridge that had to be used. Typically I'd make calzones or baked pasta/lasagna/stuffed shells with it, but with the heat we had last week, that wasn't happening. I really did not want to turn on the oven. So I turned to Google to see if I could find anything. And....I got a winner!

Pasta and Ricotta
Any pasta you want (I used a mix of ziti and penne-roughly 1lb)
3 tbsp butter
2 1/2 tbsp oil
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1. Cook pasta according to box instructions. Before draining, reserve some of the pasta water.
2. While cooking pasta, heat oil and butter in a large skillet until melted.
3. Add ricotta and parmesan and heat until mixed well.
4. Add drained pasta and stir to coat. If sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water.

Notes-I also added in some spices to my oil/butter mixture. I threw in some garlic powder (my real garlic wasn't any good), pepper, and Italian spice blend. I also added in peas to ours to get some sort of vegetable in there, but anything you add would taste good!

I have to say that this turned out really good! I LOVE ricotta cheese in anything and I can say I've never thought to use it as a sauce. It was very yummy and we'll make it again for sure! The recipe is very easy too!