Pasta Ring

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried spaghetti
• 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil

Preparation

1. 1. In a 5- to 6-quart pan over high heat, bring 3 quarts water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender to bite, 10 to 12 minutes.
2. 2. Drain pasta and immerse in cold water; when cool enough to touch, in about 1 minute, drain again. Mix with butter.
3. 3. Lift pasta, a handful at a time, and let strands shake out until fairly straight; lay neatly around the center of a ring mold (see notes). Repeat, using all the pasta; pat to make level. Let stand at least 1 hour (see notes).
4. 4. Invert a flat, rimmed microwave-safe plate over mold. Holding containers together, flip over and lift off mold.
5. 5. Cover pasta with microwave-safe plastic wrap. Heat in a microwave oven on full power (100%) until pasta is hot, about 5 minutes. Uncover and fill with beef stroganoff.