Cooking Wiser with Terri Geiser

To me, pasta is that go to food when I’ve had a long day at the office, I’m looking for something simple and quick or I just want to kick back, open a bottle of wine and enjoy a delicious meal. With the different shapes and varieties of pasta you can create a different menu for any day of the week.

Even though pasta has long been the symbol of Italian cooking, it definitely doesn’t mean it isn’t enjoyed all around the world. But because I love the history of food, I have to share a little food trivia, and it’s an interesting way to learn about different countries. For example, the State Archives in Genoa contain documents stating that as early as the 1300’s a written contract was drawn up for a lady named Maria Borgogno whose profession was a pasta maker. The State Archives also contain documents that refer to macaroni at least 50 years before Marco Polo was said to have brought noodles with him to Italy from China. Any country could claim the fame since many have their own form of pasta. The Germans enjoy spaetzle, the Polish have pierogi and throughout the Orient there are dozens of noodles usually made with rice or soy flour. In Italy the word pasta means paste and refers to the dough made from durum wheat flour called semolina. There are dried and fresh versions, all of which are wonderfully delicious.

Deciding what pasta to use though can sometimes be a little overwhelming. But don’t let that prevent you from exploring. With all the choices you might use the same pasta every time but don’t be tempted to stick to just spaghetti. By experimenting, you can create new and exciting pasta dishes anytime. Start by following these simple tips and become a pasta adventurer.