Though "Gelato and Other Italian Adventures" is NOT a cookbook, I did take a cooking class and learned how to make some traditional Italian dishes. Here’s how I learned to cook spaghetti so that it’s not dry!

First and foremost, my teacher stressed that you make spaghetti as the very last thing in your meal preparations. In other words, do not make it until you’re going to eat, otherwise it will become dry from sitting. She told us to be ready with everything else you’re going to eat because “spaghetti decides the time.”

Ingredients

• 4 cups of water
• 500 g of spaghetti (serving size about 100 grams/person)
• 1 tablespoon of salt

Serves 4-6 People
Time: Approx. 30-45 min.

Instructions
1. Add the water to a medium size pot and cook on medium heat. Bring to a boil.

2. Add the pasta and the salt once the water is boiling.

3. Cook the spaghetti according to the time on the package (usually 6-8 minutes).

4. Remove a noodle from the pot and test it to decide if it’s cooked enough for your liking.

5. When the spaghetti is done, use tongs to put it in a large bowl. Do not drain it - this is key!

6. Add your sauce to the bowl of spaghetti then mix it. If the sauce is too dry, use the water you used to boil the pasta.

Next week I’ll share the sauce recipe that goes well with the spaghetti pasta!

Cheers!
Heather D. Panico