Homemade Pasta: Read All About Homemade Pasta

Go ahead... We give you five seconds to name a food that is usually ready in less than 10 minutes: ready?

If you thought pasta, you may be among the Americans who consume about a quarter of the world's pasta production. In fact, according to data by Pasta Fits, Americans eat 6 billion pounds of pasta a year. That sure is a lot of pasta, so we wondered: what makes pasta so popular?

Could it be its versatility? Recipes for pasta abound - this chameleon can topped with a myriad of sauces and prepared in countless ways. What about flavor? Most kids frown upon many grown-up dishes but spaghetti seems to be the key to making them eat. Could it be because pasta is fun? If so, children are not the only ones have a good time with pasta. We'd like to introduce you to George L. Legendre, a man with a mathematical mind who enjoys exploring the different dimensions of pasta.

But what about Italians? It's impossible to talk about pasta and not mention Italy. Deep in the heart of Bologna, which is one of Italy's gastronomic capitals, you'll find Valeria and Margherita Simili, siblings who are known for making the perfect pasta dough. With their video lessons, you can learn how to make tagliatelle, egg-based pasta dough, gnocchi and more.

What about you? If the different types of pasta being sold on the market are a bit confusing, here's a terrific infograph that can help you distinguish linguini from bucatini. Finally, if you think you've seen it all you probably haven't - at least not until you feast your eyes on this pasta art.

For more fun pasta facts, check out the links below. We promise you'll learn more than you ever thought you could about the world's favorite food.

THE MATHS OF PASTA