I was pleasantly surprised the first time I made thinly sliced rutabaga cooked with nothing but toasty black pepper and butter. The flavors were earthy, sweet and complex and I ate a whole platter. We make noodles out of all sorts of vegetables (zucchini, carrot) and I wanted to try the same with the rutabaga. Thinking of that peppery goodness, I decided to try to make a version of the Italian cacio e pepe dish which is basically fresh pasta tossed with pasta water, cheese and pepper. I knew the rutabaga would not hold up to the vigorous stirring or have the starch required for the creamy sauce, but figured the flavors would be excellent and this dish did not disappoint. I served it with grilled pork chops with a peach gastrique and bitter green salad. Earthy, summery goodness.

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