Now that Italy"s national dish has taken over dinner menus across the globe, it"s time to return to the source in search of the full flavors and storied traditions behind pasta. Award-winning author Pamela Sheldon Johns conducts a mouthwatering, and highly educational, culinary tour of the roots of this beloved staple in PASTA!, the fifth book in her acclaimed Italian artisanal cookbook series. The ever-inquisitive Sheldon Johns drops in on some of Italy"s oldest pasta makers in search of the secrets of their craft, and discusses what distinguishes the choicest pastas, both fresh and dried, from the also-ran"s. She then offers up over 50 simple regional pasta recipes that feature the age-old foodstuff in its parade of shapes and sizes. One bite of Penne Rigati in Gorgonzola Sauce (from Lombardy), Farfalle with Peas and Proscuitto (from Emilia-Romagna) or Fusilli with Sausage and Olives (from the south), and your senses will be on a virtual tour of the motherland. For those who have struggled with making homemade pasta in the past, Sheldon Johns comes to the rescue with time-tested master recipes with step-by-step instructions, straight from the kitchens of Italy.