Pasta

There is only one way to cook pasta!!!!

Boil a large quantity of water in the biggest pan you have. I don't care if it for only one person, still use the biggest pan you have - it will make all the difference.

Add 1/4 teaspoon salt per person.

When really boiling, throw in the pasta, quick stir, then keep boiling with the lid off. Time it for a couple of minutes less than it says on the packet, then try a bit to see if it is ‘al dente’ – you know, firm but not crunchy and definitely not soggy.

As soon as it is ready, drain it through a colander, then tip back into the saucepan while there is still water in it (this is what stops it sticking together, not olive oil or butter). Immediately add in the sauce that you have been preparing while the cooking was going on.

Fresh or dried?

Think about it. By the time it is on the supermarket shelf it is already a day or two old. Then you take it home and leave it another day or two. Really, how fresh is it going to be?

Unless you are going to make it home-made (and I will come back to that one day), or have a proper deli that makes it locally, then you may as well stick with good quality dried.

Try a few different types until you find the brand you like. Pasta should taste good enough to eat with just a dribble of olive oil and some salt and pepper. If yours doesn't taste good, then maybe you need a different brand... or maybe you need to check that you have a big enough pan, enough salt, and aren't overcooking it....