Magnifico Curiosity

Ok, we know what you are thinking: Italians are obsessed with pasta. That’s absolutely true! Every Italian eats almost 60 pounds of pasta per year…way too much! Pasta is the common thread in each of Italy's 20 regions. Here you find a beginner’s guide to Italians’ favorite food.

But does pasta make you gain weight? There are very strong and differing opinions when it comes to this question. When someone wants to lose weight, especially in a small amount of time, low carb diet certainly helps.

No doubts about it, preparing and cooking a meal can be a therapeutic activity during this difficult time. Cooking is quickly becoming a sort of relaxing exercise for all the people forced to stay at home during this pandemic.

Do you like long or short pasta better? It’s an age old question, and everyone has a preference. However, even if you love both, you have to calibrate your choice to the recipe you plan on preparing.

Paccheri hail from beautiful Campania, the southern region nicknamed “Felix”- happy - by the ancient Romans. This pasta - made with durum wheat semolina - is a cornerstone of Neapolitan cuisine. The shape is large and cylindrical, cut in short pieces. Let’s be honest: paccheri are just oversized maccheroni ditalini!