There are a few unwritten rules to follow to cook true Italian-style pasta. For an end result that truly tastes like Nonna's cooking, try toasting the noodles before boiling.

Toasting exposes the noodles to dry heat, imparting a brown color and a nutty flavor and aroma. It also concentrates the ingredients' flavors, enhancing your final meal.

Browning can be done in the oven, on the stovetop or in the microwave. The oven yields the most even browning when set at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.