Pasta Cooked To Perfection (NAPSA)—It’s official. Italian food is America’s favorite. According to a recent Opinion Research Corporation survey, seven out of 10 Americans prefer the flavor of authentic, homecooked Italian meals, but nearly half don’t have the time or energy to spend in the kitchen. Fortunately, preparing a homecooked Italian meal is simple if you pair pasta with fresh, wholesome, flavorful ingredients. To help, here are some tips from award-winning Italian-American chef, Food Network host and recent “Top Chef Masters” contestant Michael Chiarello: Match the shape of the pasta to the texture of the sauce. A smooth sauceis great with long, thin noodles while more chunky sauces need a hollow noodle. * Cooking your pasta al dente, or firm, is a must for authentic Italian meals. When pressed for time, try steaming your pasta in the mi- crowave and heating the sauce separately. Family-style antipasti served on oversized rustic platters can add to the flavor of the experience. For classic platters, start with a variety of easy-to-find cured meats, Italian cheeses, marinated vegetables and olives and steak tomatoes. Serve bread hot and crispy from the oven, topped with oliveoil, sea salt and a mixture of ground Parmesancheese and dried herbs. Accompany your pasta dishes with other regional foods, such as fresh salads, antipasti and fresh fruit desserts. = a When pressed for time, chef Michael Chiarello suggests steam- ing your pasta in the microwave andheating the sauce separately. Pasta al Dente No time to cook? A recent survey found 50 percent of Americans don’t have time to cook from scratch. Fortunately, Marie Callender’s has a new line of Pasta Al Dente meals developed from classic Italian recipes with fresh-tasting herbs and spices. The steamed-to-perfection dishes include Tortellini Romano with fresh basil and real Parme- san; Chicken Carbonara with uncured bacon and peas; Penne Chicken Piccata with white wine lemon butter sauce, Parmesan cheese, spinach and capers; and Rigatoni Marinara Classico with meatballs and Italian sausage. For more information, visit www.mariespasta.com.
