French onion soup "pasta format"

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt and cook pasta just shy of al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid.

2. Meanwhile, in a large saute pan melt butter and olive oil together over low heat. Add sliced shallots to the pan, season generously with salt and pepper and mix around. Go check on the kids. Come back and give them a good stir. Open the mail. Give another good stir. Help with homework, stir, pick up the toddler pulling at your leg, have the toddler stir, put a show on 'On Demand', stir, pour yourself a big glass of wine, let's put the toddler down now, and finally stir again. Super multi-tasking dinner, see? Give the shallots about 25 minutes or so over the low heat until they are nice and soft.

3. Add the drained pasta, starchy cooking water, and parmesan to the shallots and toss together. Put pasta in deep bowls and top with freshly shaved parmesan and chopped parsley. Serve with a side salad.