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October 25 is World Pasta Day. Humans have been eating pasta
since at least 5,000 BC. However, this joyful holiday was established only in
1995, when 40 pasta producers from around the world gathered for the first
World Pasta Congress. Since then, the world has joined forces every October to
pay homage to the most delicious and versatile food known to man. Whether you
like rigatoni, angel hair, or pappardelle, you'll love this holiday!
History of the day
This may come as a shock, but Chef Boyardee did not invent
pasta, although real-life Italian cook Hector Boiardi started the company in
Pennsylvania over 80 years ago.
(By the way, he accumulated a net worth of $60 million.)
Honestly, the world has enjoyed this dish since the first century AD. While
legend has it that Marco Polo imported pasta from China in the 1200s, British
food writer Jane Grigson believes a Canadian spaghetti company may have started
that tale in the 1920s.
We do know that dried pasta surged in popularity during the
14th and 15th centuries — mainly for its easy storage. This allowed people to
bring pasta along on ships when exploring the New World.
Hungary boasted a pasta factory in 1859, while central
Italy’s Buitoni Company began churning out pasta a mere eight years later. The
trend moved into the present-day Czech Republic by 1884. During a stay in
Paris, President Jefferson ate what he called “macaroni,” but it might have
been any type of pasta.
He eventually returned to America with two cases. Pasta’s popularity further blossomed in the U.S. during the late 19th century, when a large group of Italian immigrants (mostly from Naples), moved to America.
Today, National Pasta Day celebrations have evolved to
celebrate the traditional ingredients and flavors that are integral to the true
Italian fare. The Italian people are known for using a lot of different fresh
vegetables and meats during the preparation of their pasta dishes. The most popular
and widely used ingredients include onions, garlic, fresh herbs, tomatoes,
bell peppers, mushrooms, cucumbers, salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, thyme,
seasonings, cheese, butter, and bacon.
On special occasions, additional ingredients may include
cream, margarine, nuts, or powdered milk. National Pasta Day is a time to enjoy
the many great recipes that use these ingredients and to explore the depth and
breadth of the different flavors that can be found in Italy.
There are hundreds of pasta recipe websites on the internet,
offering step-by-step instructions on how to make these delicious pasta. Since
there are so many different types of noodles that can be used in a recipe, it
can sometimes be a little confusing.
When it comes to National Pasta Day, however, there is only
one recipe that you need to follow, and that recipe just happens to be one of
the best-known. Follow the recipe that television shows and celebrity chefs
use and you will have an awesome meal that your family will love. And once you
have tasted it, you will never want to go back to regular old spaghetti.
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