If your pantry is like most, pasta products dominate at
least one of the shelves. Inexpensive, nutritious and easy to cook, it can be a
simple dish that takes just minutes to prepare. How about noodles prepared with
just butter, parsley and parmesan cheese? Add some leftovers-or not-and you
have a great family meal.
One of our favourites is to use a short pasta dressed with
chorizo sausage, onion, blue cheese and cream. If it's too thick, use a little
of the pasta water to thin it out.
To cook pasta, place it in boiling water-10 parts water to
one part pasta-until cooked but not too soft (often called "al dente"). Many
people then rinse it under cold water to get rid of excess starch. DON'T. This
will leave the pasta unable to bind to the sauce.
Speaking of breaking trends, do not add oil to the water.
Despite popular belief, it does not prevent the pasta from clumping or keep the
pasta from boiling over. To prevent clumping and boiling over, use lots of
water, keep it at a rolling boil and stir it occasionally.
At Cuisine & Passion, we carry a variety of premium
pastas of various shapes and sizes including a new squid-ink pasta. Although
imported from Italy, most are made with Canadian durum wheat, among the best in
the world. Drop in and have a look! Because if you have pasta in the pantry,
dinner is never very far away.
Amitiée gourmande
Chef Marc
