Pasta: questions and Band 8 answers

Yes, definitely. It's actually one of my go-to comfort foods because it's so quick to whip up after a long day. I really enjoy trying out different sauces, especially rich tomato and basil ones with plenty of garlic.

Probably about once or twice a week. Since I live in a shared flat, it's just really convenient and budget-friendly to cook in bulk. My flatmate and I usually make a big tray of baked pasta on Sunday evenings.

I'd have to say penne or fusilli. I prefer short pasta shapes because they tend to hold onto thick sauces much better than things like spaghetti. If I'm eating out, I almost always order penne arrabbiata with a generous grating of parmesan.

Not particularly, to be honest. Growing up, my parents tended to cook more traditional local meals with rice or potatoes. Pasta was seen as a bit of a treat, so we only really had it when we went to an Italian restaurant for special occasions.

I haven't, actually, though I'd love to give it a go. It always looks quite therapeutic when people roll out fresh dough on cookery programmes, but buying dried pasta from the supermarket is just far less messy.