To Cook Pasta

One pound of pasta serves 4 people for a main course, 6 people for a first course. Cook pasta in boiling salted water (at least 3 quarts of water per pound of pasta).

Let water boil briskly for a minute before adding pasta. Instead of breaking long spaghetti or macaroni, hold a handful at one end and dip the other into the boiling water. As the pasta softens, curl it round in the pan until the whole length goes in. Do not cover. Stir at the start of the cooking to prevent spaghetti from sticking to the pan.