What’s the difference between chicken pasta and a chicken noodle dishes.  Some say that pasta is a kind of noodle primarily used in Italian cuisine while noodle is a more general global culinary classification.  In a nutshell, the disparity can also be summed up in three factors: the ingredients they’re made of, the shape and the way they’re eaten.

Pasta is made with semolina or durum wheat while noodles are made with a combination of flours and starches (both unleavened).  The former can be made into a variety of forms like small or big strips or tubes, straight or curved cylindrical shapes, bows and twists.  Noodles, on the other hand, are usually rolled or pulled into long and flat shapes, thickly or thinly cut.  Lastly, pasta is eaten with a fork and spoon while noodles are eaten with chopsticks.

If you have a lot of time, patience and a pasta maker, by all means make your own as nothing beats the flavor and texture of fresh home-made noodles.  With only a handful of ingredients, namely flour, salt, water, eggs and extra virgin olive oil you can create pasta perfection if you know the secrets of using the right ingredients, proper kneading, rolling and cooking.

Do’s in preparation: use the best olive oil you can afford, room temperature eggs, cold water (for a healthier product, replace with juiced vegetables like spinach, beet root or carrot) and a strong wheat flour; roll out slowly; cook in water at a rolling boil with a little oil.  Do not over knead, over work, overcook.  When preparing noodles that will be cooked further after boiling, do not cook to doneness as it will be heated further with the sauce or in the oven.  Al dente (Italian for “to the tooth” or “to the bite”) pertains to the correct way that pasta should be served – firm not hard, just right not limp and soggy.

The chicken pasta dishes showcased are both Italian inspired and otherwise and will surely be a hit among children as well as adults.  A fine example of comfort food are the noodle dishes containing carrots, celery and onion with herbs and egg noodles – perfect when one is under the weather.  The lemon-pepper penne and chicken tender dishes are traditional dishes that have a sizable meat component so that it can stand on its own as an entrée.