Pasta recipes

Recipes for Pasta

Pasta is a creation for which we can thank our friends in Southern Italy. It comes in a multitude of shapes and sizes, such as flat, stringed, shells, bows, tubular, scalloped, ruffled or curly edges. Pasta sauces are as varied as the pasta itself. Pastas can be served alone with a dash of garlic and olive oil, layered with meat and cheese, or stuffed with meat and/or cheese, then covered with sauce and baked for one of the most delectable, filling dishes you've ever tasted.

A traditional pasta recipe for cooking pasta is to add it to boiling water gradually and boil uncovered for seven to ten minutes. However, in more recent years pasta has joined the 21st century with quick-cooking varieties that can be cooked in a microwave oven or a crock pot. Since pasta has a tendency to stick together, adding a little oil or butter to the cooked pasta will keep the pieces separated.

A good accompaniment for any meat dish is noodles with a light cream sauce and seasonings. Noodles are one of the most versatile forms of pasta and can be used alone as a side dish or incorporated into a satisfying casserole.

There are many stir-ins to make your pasta creation special that will add colour, variety and flavour. For example, try adding browned breadcrumbs, almonds, herbs, onions, green peppers, Parmesan cheese or poppy seed to noodles or other pastas for an exciting, taste-tempting treat.

One of the most famous and loved pasta dishes of all is spaghetti. Spaghetti is not just spaghetti and meatballs anymore. There are new, innovative pasta recipes which feature many different add-ins, a variety of sauces, and even pasta recipes using poultry instead of the traditional beef. With all the options available in pasta recipes, you're certain to find new favourites to go along with the old.