Pasta

Pasta is the staple component of Italian cuisine and various kitchens around the world. Pasta is said to have originated in Sicily in 1154, and it broadly refers to the rather large variety of dishes that are common to Italy. From the simplest spaghetti Bolognese, to lasagne, carbonara and even Mac ‘n’ cheese, pasta is a carbohydrate that graces many dinner tables around the world. It is also famous for the big mess it makes! Long spaghetti strands can fall off the plate, or when sucked up can send tomato sauce flying in all directions. For every piece that slips off your fork and onto your lap or tablecloth there’s a chance that a stain is left behind at the spot. In this article, we’re looking at the world’s most famous pastas, their ingredients, and what to do in case they spill on your clothes.

There are several thousand kinds of pasta shapes, usually originating from a different region of Italy. The most common pasta shapes are penne, rotini and spaghetti, but there are also others like gigli, lumaconi and garganelli. Pastas are normally shaped by hand when cooked at home, but there are special implements available to create more intricate lines in pastas such as conchiglie. All you need to make pasta are eggs, flour and a little work, and of course, a pasta maker. Take a look online for the best recipes on making pasta, making some at home for more fun – it is easier to make than you think! If you’d much rather buy ready pasta, you will find that dried pasta is the most common variety There is not much difference in shapes, but some carry sauces better than others, such as penne.

Although our taste for pasta has evolved from Mediterranean cuisine, our cooking methods for the most part have not. A common method to finish cooking a pasta dish differently is to allow the sauce to keep cooking while you drain the pasta. Then, once drained, add your pasta to the still-cooking sauce. Cooking it for an extra minute within the sauce will add more flavour, and will also give you the chance to mix the two well. Now there will be no more dry pasta at the bottom of your bowl, and also much more gusto!

While sauces and pasta might mix well together on your plate, the same combination spells disasteryou’re your clothes. Tomato sauce causes notorious clothes stains, and your clothes can get stained also from olive oil, herbs and other condiments you use in the sauce. However, pasta stains can come off easily with the instructions below.

To start, turn your clothing inside out and flush the stained area with cool tap water. This prevents the stain from setting, and also washes much of the excess away.

Now you can enlist the help of your washing machine and Vanish Gold Oxi Action powder to clean the stain completely. Here are the steps to clean out tomato sauce stains:

1. Mix one quarter of a scoop of powder with warm water, and stir.
2. Apply the solution to the surface of the stain.
3. Leave for five minutes after mixing, using the bottom of the scoop to evenly apply the mix gently on the stain.
4. Now wash off the solution and place it in the washing machine with another scoop of Vanish, and your regular detergent.

1. Mix 10g of powder with equal amount of water, stir for 30 seconds.
2. Apply the mix on the stain.
3. Rub stain as needed. 
4. Wash as usual with your normal detergent and add another scoop of Vanish.
5. Clean and dry the scoop before placing back into the tub.
6. After pre-treat, wash as usual.
7. Is your stain still visible? Give your garment a soak in a scoop of Vanish powder in 4L of warm or cold water (max 40°C). Leave it to soak for 1 hour (max) for coloured clothes or 6 hours (max) for whites. Then, wash with your usual detergent and an extra scoop of Vanish.
8. Important: Always follow the usage instructions on the Vanish packaging. Do not use on wool, silk or leather.