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Pasta is such a common staple in so many meals around the world that we almost take it for granted. It’s hard to imagine not having this simple, filling carbohydrate to depend on. It’s the cornerstone of Italian cooking, and it’s easy to see why – you can boil up some dried stuff for a quick lunch, or spend a whole day making your own from scratch to serve at a big social meal. If you want to learn how to hone your pasta making skills, Italy is the place to go. In this article, we’ll explore the iconic foodstuff’s history before telling you why learning to make it is one of the best things to do in Tuscany. Makin’ Macaroni: Pasta by Hand One of the most well-known and common types of pasta, macaroni, gets its name from a Sicilian word for kneading dough. Not just kneading it, however, but doing it ‘with gusto’. In this way, the word captures the dish’s early history, conjuring images of hardworking peasants labouring for hours to get the perfect noodle. Don’t worry, though, if hard labour doesn’t sound like the best of all the many wonderful things to do in Tuscany, rest assured that modern methods use a variety of technologies, and are far less demanding physically. Have Food, Will Travel While many regions of the world claim to have been the first to develop pasta, its history in Italy starts on the small island of Sicily. Pretty soon, though, word of the simple and delicious wheat-based noodle spread to the mainland, where it was quickly picked up and dispersed all around the country and beyond. Did You Know? While some believe that thirteenth-century explorer Marco Polo brought pasta to Europe from his voyages in Asia, others claim that he simply rediscovered a dish that had been common among ancient Etruscans and Romans. Just Add Sauce Once the practice of making pasta spread, it didn’t take long for all manner of cooks to develop a huge variety of sauces to go with it. The climate in southern Italy made it the perfect region to grow the necessary wheat, but the dish really got going once people figured out how to dry it. Now it could be stored, so once the Age of Exploration got underway, pasta travelled all over on European ships. It was another couple of hundred years before the tomato made it back to Europe. While mixing pasta with tomato sauce might seem like the simplest thing in the world – and indeed the two ingredients are a match made in heaven – it’s actually a fairly recent innovation. Cooking Classes and More Of course, learning the background of this famous Italian mainstay is interesting, and a visit to a culinary focussed museum is among the many fun things to do in Tuscany. That said, there is no competition for actually making some of your own. Luckily, the region is full of towns, villages and cities that offer the chance to get your hands dirty and make yourself a meal. If becoming a pasta pro sounds like one of the best things to do in Tuscany to you, look up what is on offer before you travel and get ready for an authentic Italian cooking experience. You’ll be wowing yourself with your culinary skills before you know it. Author Plate Mauro Bramante is the Director of WalkAbout Florence, an independent business offering a number of exciting opportunities when it comes to things to do in Tuscany. Whether you want to ride a Vintage Vespa, try the famous Chianti wine or get cooking with fresh local ingredients, Mauro's company promises excitement, adventure and above all, fun. If you're keen to experience the magic of Italy with the help of some passionate and knowledgeable tour guides, look no further than WalkAbout Florence for your next getaway.
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