The MUST of the Italian Cuisine- What you should know if you want to cook Italian

Having many friends from all over the world is a delicious, continuous surprise.
In the years I found out that there are some "common" mistakes that people do when they cook the Italian Food.
The first time I went visiting my friend living in Miami I decided to prepare an Italian lunch for her and her family. And she was shocked by discovering some basic infos. And then I found out it wasn't her fault; the point is there are some "common beliefs" that need to be clarified if you really want to cook like an Italian.

Please DON'T read the instructions on the back of the Pasta box.

This is the first spot for you. Don't do that. Never. If you do that you will find something like "to add more savour to the pasta add some salt in the water." This means nobody will salt it thinking it's just a "way of cooking it". BULLSHIT!

• YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO SALT THE WATER. IT'S A MUST.

Not doing it is like going to Rome and not visiting the Colosseum! Like to eat and Hamburger and not the French Fries. Like ordering Fish and Chips and not eating the fish. Who would do that? NOBODY!! At least, nobody being sane!!
So please, take your pot, fill it with water, bring it to a boil and when it's boiling, BEFORE ADDING THE PASTA, salt it (using the cooking salt). You can taste the water if you are not sure of how much salt you have to use. It doesn't have to taste like the ocean, but it has to be "nicely salty".

• PLEASE USE A STRAINER

Please, when the pasta is ready, don't take one single spaghetto with a carving fork direclty from the boiling water. You have to strain them in a strainer. Please. Repeat, strainer, strainer, strainer! Or if you like the sound, SCOLAPASTA, SCOLAPASTA, SCOLAPASTA ( Italian word for strainer)
 

• KEEP THE PASTA BOX IN A DRY PLACE.

I recently discovered that some people keep the pasta box in the fridge. WHAT THE HELL IS THIS???
No way. Unless we are taking about fresh pasta you have to keep it in a DRY place or it will loose its consistency.
A compartment of your kitchen will be perfect!

• IF I SAY MOZZARELLA WHY YOU SHOULD USE THE CHEDDAR CHEESE?
  

Here another spot.
PLEASE DON'T CHANGE THE INGREDIENTS OF A RECIPE.
If you can't find one, just change recipe. Don't change the ingredients.
I've heard people saying, "Well, if you can't find the Stracchino cheese you can use the Mozzarella, if you can't find the Mozzarella you can use the Cheddar" or "Olive oil is too expensive, use the seedoil, it will be the same".
Are you teasing me, right? 
To belong to the cathegory called "Cheese" doesn't make them all the same and if you believe Olive oil is too expensive, stop trying cooking Italian and prepare a Chinese dish!

What you alwasy have to keep in mind is that the reason why the Italian cuisine is so famous is that it uses wonderful ingredients, the best ones. Change them and nothing will remain.
The Olive Oil in the Italian Cuisine is fundamental like the Pope in the Vatican.

• COOKING THE ITALIAN FOOD MEANS CREATING A MASTERPIECE

Last but not less important. When you decide to cook an Italian dish keep in mind you're CREATING A MASTERPIECE.
Cooking for Italians is not just taking 4 ingredients, combine them together and eat.
It means taking your time to look for the best ingredients, living your kitchen and invest your time in creating something unique. It means you are doing something for the people you love, because they will sit around a table with you and share a magic moment.
I was shocked the first time I read an Italian recipe in English. It was like 2 lines, saying "take all the ingredients, mix them together, fill a saucepan with the mixture and cook at medium heat for 30 minutes".  Oh my!!!
Italian recipes tell you what's the best way to cut the ingredients, which one to add for first, how to mix them, what kind of saucepan to use, etc, etc, etc. They are guidelines for the creation of a perfect combination that will end with a divine dish.

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