PASTA WITH EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE

Pasta is the ultimate convenience food, a pantry staple that is ready in less than fifteen minutes. Soups, cold or warm salads, side dishes or a mid week meal… quick and easy to cook, pasta goes well with fish, meat or vegetables, and a few pantry items such as soy or tomato sauce will add extra flavor. Pasta is all over. Look east for everyday food and you will see noodles; look west and you will find spaghetti, penne, ziti, tortellini, lasagna, or angel hair.

Pasta is made predominantly with durum wheat. Though there is pasta made with other types of specialty wheat, like spelt pasta, or pasta made with rice, corn, quinoa, lentil, or soy flour, catering to special diets.

Noodles have been made with wheat, rice, soy, or buckwheat, depending on the region where a particular ingredient is grown.

In both cases, eggs or vegetables can be added for flavor. Pasta is available fresh or dried. These days you can also find it frozen or packaged.

SPRING

Pasta primavera, the name says it all. In spring, serve pasta with vegetables.

SUMMER

Pasta salads, pasta with cold, cream based sauces.

FALL

Try plain spaghetti with butter and parmesan cheese.

WINTER

Isn't chicken noodle soup the definitive winter conforter?