86 Ways to Prepare Macaroni

Chinese Noodles and a Sailor's Love

There are many different fables about the origin of macaroni. It would be nice to believe, for instance, the story of the Chinese maiden who, sheltered under a tree on a warm summer day, was busy mixing a batch of bread dough, when a sailor, a member of the famous Marco Polo expedition to the Orient, approached her and declared undying love for her. The enterprising sailor spoke so fervently and convincingly, that she forgot her task. A gust of wind blew some leaves from the tree into the bowl of dough. The pretty maiden, fearful of the scolding she would get for wasting the flour, didn't know what to do. Her gallant lover conceived the idea of removing the leaves from the mixture simply by forcing the mixture through a wicker basket, which served as a sieve. The lovers then became so interested in themselves that they forgot the dough. This, protruding in thin strands, dried in the hot sun.

When the time came for the sailor's departure, the maid presented him with the dry strands of dough. He took them to his ship, cooked them and found them so delicious, that he decided to make the dish himself many times thereafter. The fable goes on to tell us how, before long, the food came to be loved by all the members of the crew, and finally by the explorer himself, Marco Polo.

The Magician and the King

Here is another charming story about the origin of macaroni. It tells of an old chemist and sorcerer, named Cico, who lived in an ancient house on the outskirts of Naples during the Thirteenth Century. After a long and adventurous life, Cico decided to devote his last years to the discovery of something that would bring happiness to all mankind. After trying many strange recipes of foods, he finally perfected a dish, seasoned with the most exquisite sauce.

Now any story of a magician would be empty without a woman. So this amusing tale of the old sorcerer has Giovannella, a young and beautiful maiden who spied on old Cico and discovered his secret. To make the story complete, Giovanella's lover was a cook in the King's palace. Before long, the King himself was presented with a delicious dish of this new food. His majesty enjoyed it so much that he exclaimed: "Cari" - (which means dear or darling). He took a second helping - and this time, he exclaimed: "Ma, Caroni!" which means "Oh, but how very dear!" or words to that effect.

How to Cook Macaroni

Cook macaroni in plenty of water. Have salted water boiling rapidly before macaroni is added. Add macaroni gradually so the water continues to boil. The longer macaroni may be broken in half. Keep the water boiling rapidly. Cook the macaroni uncovered, or only partially covered. Stir frequently with a fork.

Cook until a piece of macaroni, rubbed between the fingers, is tender. Avoid over-cooking: especially if the macaroni is to be added to other ingredients and cooked again.

When the macaroni is done, drain and serve. If it is to be served in salads, soups, desserts, etc., rinse with cold water. If macaroni is to be served hot with a sauce and you wish to rinse it, rinse with hot water in order to avoid cooling.

The soup recipes presented in this group offer a wide variety of interesting soups. Some, like the Chicken Noodle Soup and the Alphabet Consomme, offer a delicious first course for luncheon or dinner. The heavier soups, like the Fish Chowder, Pot au Feu, and the Minestrone, if offered in generous portions, can very well serve as the main course for luncheon, or even for dinner. Soups made with macaroni make satisfying main course dishes. The stock called for in the soup recipes can be prepared by boiling the bones in water. If no meat stock is available, the chicken and beef stock may be easily prepared by using one or two chicken or beef bouillon cubes per cup of hot water to make the required amount of stock or buying cans of ready made stock available in the soup aisle at your local grocer's.