Penne is a thin tube pasta that goes well with hearty sauces such as pesto and meat-based marinara. "Rigate" in the name indicates that the penne has a ridged surface.

Ramen noodles are a Japanese dish made with wheat noodles. The noodles are eaten with a flavorful broth, to which meats and vegetables are often added. The preparation of fresh ramen noodles is considered an art in Japan and takes time and skill.

Whether you prefer long spaghetti noodles or one of the other shapes including farfalle or macaroni, pasta can be prepared ahead of time and then refrigerated for a quick meal later.

If you are a pasta lover, you likely enjoy the fresh taste of pasta that is made from scratch. Making your own pasta noodles at home requires just a few simple ingredients, such as flour, eggs and salt, or you can expand the taste by adding other flavors like garlic, spinach or onion.

Dry pasta noodles absorb the flavor of the sauce in which they are baked. The liquid from the sauce, combined with the steam created during cooking, is enough to prevent the noodles from drying out.

Versatile and quick to prepare, pasta is a healthy convenience food. Combine it with vegetables and a protein source like meat or beans and you'll have a nutrient-rich meal in a bowl. As a high-carbohydrate food, pasta is a rich source of relatively quick, yet long-lasting energy.

Cold pasta dishes are refreshing on warm days and attractive any time of year for the ease in serving. Making cold pasta and storing it in the refrigerator for serving whenever you're ready is convenient, particularly when you're busy.

While many may associate ravioli as something that comes from a can, drips with tomato sauce and makes a quick lunch on the fly, ravioli is so much more than that. The tiny pillows of pasta are filled with cheeses, meats and herbs and are often boiled before being served under a layer of sauce.

Cook a homemade lasagna for dinner and you'll cut back on the salt and preservatives found in the frozen lasagnas you'll find at the grocery store. You can use whole wheat noodles and low-fat cheese to make a homemade lasagna healthier.

Sea shell pasta, often referred to as shell pasta, gets its name from its distinct, curled shape that resembles a conch shell. Sea shell pasta is thick and commonly used in sauce-based dishes. The shell-shape allows sauce to collect in the pasta.

Like most controversies, the question of whether to add pasta to your soup cooked or uncooked is one that doesn't have a single answer. The answer depends a little on the type of noodles you're using, a little on the type of soup you're making and a little on your own personal preferences.

Much like American chili, Bolognese sauce has as many variations as there are cooks preparing their own personal version. To protect the integrity of the dish, the city of Bologna adopted an official recipe in 1982.