1.  If the potatoes have been peeled the cooking water can be used for sauces or soups.

2.  Also, cook by steaming, microwaving, roasting or stir-frying to prevent vitamins from leaching out into cooking water.

3.  As for the shrimp, you can buy them peeled, but shrimp poached in their shells have more flavor, particularly if the cooking water is salted.

4.  Add a little sugar and salt to the cooking water.

5.  Add sliced cheese and toss gently again, moistening mixture with reserved cooking water, if necessary.

6.  Add a few tablespoons of the hot cooking water and toss again.

7.  Add a half cup or so of the pasta cooking water to the sauce and continue cooking.

8.  Add butter and a few tablespoons of cooking water to pot and place over medium high heat.

9.  Add the cream and butter and mix thoroughly, thinning with a bit of the reserved cooking water if necessary to reach desired consistency.

10.  Add the pasta to the cooking water and boil until it is about two thirds of the way to al dente.