This is the time of the year when uninvited guests turn up and invited guests stay longer than anticipated, either way they will want feeding. With a few pantry staples you can throw together a spontaneous feast with minimum fuss and nothing is faster than pasta. Here is a selection of speedy sauces that are ready in moments. I have dispensed with quantities, just use as much as you think, of what you have available. There is nothing wrong with using dried pasta, in fact in northern Italy no one eats fresh pasta, so it is a case of when not in Rome do as the Romans do. We have some wonderful dried pasta available locally, I asked local deli owners to select their favourites, a few of which are listed at the end of this article. Pasta with olive oil and garlic is the simplest of all. Cook Spaghetti in the usual way. In a separate pan gently heat some olive oil, stir in chopped garlic and heat. Do not allow that garlic to burn or the oil to smoke. Overheated olive oil loses all its hea
