There’s incredible pasta, and there’s OK pasta. Even an objectively bland pasta is tasty in my eyes (er... belly). The most memorable pasta my taste buds regularly yearn for was served inside a Parmigiano Reggiano rind in Florence, Italy. And one of my favorite dinners, when I’m feeling run-down, is a slightly grown-up version of the beloved butter noodles of my childhood—add Parm and freshly cracked pepper, please!

I Asked 4 Chefs To Name the Best Dry Pasta—They All Said the Same Brand

Whether you prefer penne or fettuccine, a hearty plate of pasta with Alfredo sauce always hits the spot after a long day. Tasty as is or made more filling with steamed broccoli or strips of crispy breaded chicken, the star of this comforting dish is its rich, creamy sauce. Despite the fact that Olive Garden's signature Alfredo sauce used to be shrouded in secrecy, the savory stuff is generally straightforward in terms of its ingredients, which include butter, heavy cream, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and some seasonings and herbs like parsley. However, it can still be deceptively difficult to get right. Besides flavor, of course, the sign of a restaurant-worthy cream sauce usually comes down to consistency; Alfredo sauce shouldn't be so thick that it's unappetizingly goopy or so thin that it can't cling to pasta properly.

The Only Way To Thicken Alfredo Sauce According To A Chef

If you're anything like most foodies, pasta likely has a regular spot in your weeknight at-home dinner rotation. From mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, to lasagna, there's nothing more crowd pleasing and comforting than whipping up a meal by boiling some boxed noodles and popping open a jarred sauce, plus adding some variety of cheese and veggies on top. While easy pasta dinners will always be a staple, we all know there's a big difference between the usual at-home meal you're making from store-bought ingredients and the most elevated, memorable, restaurant-made pasta sauces you've enjoyed.

Make Store-Bought Pasta Sauce Taste Homemade With This Chef Pro-Tip

If you've never sunk your teeth into an al dente strand of bucatini, boy are you missing out. While not one of the most obscure pasta shapes, it is certainly underrepresented, at least amongst American diners, for whom classics like spaghetti, penne, and rigatoni always seem to dominate store shelves and menus. For the uninitiated, bucatini is essentially a marriage between long pasta styles and tubed pasta styles. It looks like a really girthy strand of spaghetti, but there is a hole running up the center, almost like a narrow drinking straw. It's a bit sturdier than most long noodles, although the center hole ensures you don't get an undercooked center. The result is a delightfully toothsome bite, while the hollow core holds sauce fantastically well.

The Best Sauce Pairings For Unbeatable Bucatini Pasta

Blanco, TX

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Brigid Pfeifer

There were a number of celebrities who passed away within the past week, including two notable actresses: Shelley Duvall and Shannen Doherty. Shelley Duvall passed away on Thursday July 11th at her home in Blanco, Texas. The cause of death was complications from diabetes and news of her death was confirmed by her partner Dan Gilroy.

Two Beloved Hollywood Actresses Have Passed Away This Week

Be it a classic Big Mac or a hearty Quarter Pounder, the core ingredient that these McDonald's burgers can't do without are the ground beef patties. Some of you fast food fans out there might have wondered how McDonald's patties came to be while chomping down on that burger. Well, there aren't dedicated burger-shapers pressing fresh patties from a bucket of ground beef working behind the counter at each McDonald's. To streamline the operation, McDonald's buys all of its ingredients — from the beef patties in the burgers to the coffee it brews — from external vendors.

Who Makes McDonald's Beef Patties?

New York City, NY

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

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Cheryl E Preston

Yesterday was the third time this year that an ad stating Chelsea Clinton lives in a beautiful Virginia home popped up on my laptop. My computer did not warn me this was a dangerous site, so this time, I clicked on the link.

Chelsea Clinton is rumored to be living in Virginia but probably still in NYC

Alex Guarnaschelli knows good food. The Iron Chef, Food Network star, and cookbook author certainly knows her way around the kitchen, and she has some pretty keen advice to share for home cooks looking to improve their sauteing skills and braising bonafides. However, it seems Guarnaschelli's advice also extends to wine. In an interview with Food & Wine, the chef spilled some of her opinions on wine as both a drink and an essential ingredient in cooking.

The Cardinal Mistake Of Cooking With Wine According To Alex Guarnaschelli

North Carolina State

Town Talks

As much as we want our pets to live forever, there will come a day when we have to say goodbye. Holding a memorial service for your pet and laying them to rest can be a great way to begin the healing process.

Can you bury a pet at home in your backyard in North Carolina? Here’s what state law says

Food Fusion Frenzy

Swedish meatballs, or "köttbullar," are a classic Scandinavian dish beloved for their tender texture and rich, creamy sauce. 2 tablespoons butter (for frying) Prepare the Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Let it sit for a few minutes until the breadcrumbs absorb the milk. Add the ground beef, ground pork, chopped onion, egg, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.

Delicious Swedish Meatballs with Creamy Gravy

As drinkable frozen treats go, there's nothing quite as decadent as a malt, with its combination of ice cream, milk, flavored syrup, and malted milk powder. While it might not seem like much, there's a surprising backstory to that last key ingredient, which began as a nutritional supplement more than 150 years ago before finding its way into quaffable desserts and those crunchy malted milk balls enjoyed by moviegoers and trick-or-treaters. And yes, it's also related to the malt used in beer and Scotch whisky production after going through additional steps to create those libations.

You Probably Wouldn't Guess What The Malt In Your Milkshake Is

Lancaster County, PA

NewsByJoshua

Fans of Frisco's Chicken were left reeling as the beloved Peruvian-style eatery announced the closure of all its locations in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The chain, known for its delicious food and strong community values, posted a heartfelt note on its doors, informing customers of the devastating news.

Favorite Chicken Chain Suddenly Closes All Stores, Heartfelt Message Found on Doors

Virginia State

History Facts lists eight names US parents no longer give their newborns, which you may no longer hear in Virginia. The girls' names are Doris, Gertrude, Mildred, and Judith. I know or have known women with all four names, but they are either baby boomers or boomer parents' ages and someone's grandma or great aunt. Consider the ages of females in Virginia you know with these names.

Eight names parents in Virginia may no longer be giving to their newborns

Jessica Serfitay flips the script on her previous statement. Virginia soap fans, Soap Opera News reports that Jessica Serfitay (ex Sloan Petersen) on Days of Our Lives posted on social media that her billionaire fiancé had abused her. The actress now says they argued as families do, and she never should have posted anything.

Days of Our Lives alum Jessica Serfitay retracts her statement that her fiance abused her

Total Apex Sports & Entertainment

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are two of the biggest celebrities in modern times. While much of the happenings between the two involved their marriage and divorce, there are bigger things for them to focus on. Most notably their children.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s Son Diagnosed With Rare Skin Condition

We bet there's a bunch of fresh tomatoes sitting in your pantry right now and, somewhere in your meal plan, there's a recipe or two that calls for these bright red fruits. How could we not make that bet when they're so versatile? A single pot of all-purpose tomato sauce can be used for everything from dressing up pasta to simmering a fresh batch of spicy turkey chili. But not all tomatoes are created equally flavorful. If your tomatoes are tasting a little bit lackluster, try adding a pinch of monosodium glutamate. Sounds unfamiliar? Well, you'll know it by its initialism: MSG.

Upgrade Lackluster Tomatoes With One Special Ingredient

There is no doubting the charm of a roadside ice cream stand, with their clapboard siding and wooden picnic tables scattered on the green. Each local spot sports its own array of unique flavors and fun, family-friendly atmosphere. There is nothing better than taking a big sip from a cola float from a nice ice cream shop, but the industrial strength of a warehouse air conditioning system would make your treat even sweeter. Luckily for us, Costco offers both ice cream (at a low price) and some pretty powerful AC. The only problem? You can't order a Coke float from Costco's food court. However, there's no need to fret over this little snag, as there is one simple hack that can help you to live your ice cream float dreams during your next visit to the wholesale club.

The Costco Food Court Hack For Delicious Ice Cream Floats

Virginia Wendy Williams fans, this is your July 2024 update on the former talk show host. Her best friend of 44 years, Regina Schell, has shared recent concerns with TV Show Aces and says she has not seen or talked to Wendy in more than a year.

Wendy Williams fans are worried after her best friend claims not to have heard from her in a year

Pizza is one of life's most simple and delicious pleasures. That effortless combination of milky cheese, soft dough, and savory, sweet tomato sauce is classic for a reason: It's just so darn good. While making a quality homemade version of this pie can come with a bit of a learning curve, the process still doesn't have to be too hard. All you really need are a few staple ingredients to make pizza dough at home. For example, you can turn Greek yogurt into pizza dough with just one extra ingredient: Self-rising flour. (And if you only have all-purpose, simply combine with salt and baking powder to make your own.) Yes, really. That's seriously all it takes.

Turn Yogurt Into Pizza Dough With One Extra Ingredient

Chicago, IL

Foodie in Chicago

Shortly before 3 AM, people in the Chicago area may have felt their houses shake as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred about 60 miles west of the city. (CHICAGO) The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 3.4-magnitude earthquake around Somonauk, IL. Somonauk is in DeKalb and LaSalle Counties, 64 miles west of Chicago.

Did You Feel the Earthquake?

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The Best Types Of Pasta To Pair With Cream Sauce

Pasta is nothing if not versatile. After it's boiled, you can toss it with an infinite number of sauces, ending up with a new taste experience...

The Best Types Of Pasta To Pair With Cream Sauce

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