Mom's Pasta con aglio e olio (Spaghetti with garlic oil and red pepper flakes)

This used to be one of mom's meals when money was tight.

It was cheap and it was good.

Mom always used to use Barilla pasta.

Ingredients

1 pound spaghetti

1/4 cup virgin olive oil or vegetable oil
3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped small
crushed pepper flakes if desired

Fresh or dried parlsey to garnish
Parmesan grated cheese to sprinkle on top of each portion plate

Directions:

In a medium pot bring water to a boil add the salt

and the spaghetti.
Cook the spaghetti until it is al dente.

Drain pasta, make sure you reserve the pasta water.

In a large frying pan,

heat olive oil over medium heat.

Add the garlic and red pepper flakes,

saute until garlic is light brown.

It's important not too burn the garlic

or else it will become bitter,

then add about 1 cup of reserved water to start and the spaghetti to the skillet with the garlic and red pepper flakes and mix well,  if it’s too dry add more reserved water.  Serve pasta on plates, top

with grated cheese and if you like more red

pepper flakes.and garnish with parsley flakes