How Do You Make Noodles, Again?

So how long does it take to forget how to cook pasta?  I’m not talking anything fancy like fettuccine or tortellini.  I’m not even talking spaghetti.  I’m simply referring to pasta noodles.  It is simple right?  I’ve been cooking noodles since I was a little girl.  I made mac and cheese.  I remember reading the directions and finding it was quiet easy, boil the water, add the mac, when the noodles are soft drain the water and add butter and cheese powder.  Sounds good.  As easy as it sounds, tonight I learned something..  It takes 2 years to forget how to make pasta.

Two years in Korea and I’ve never once cooked spaghetti.  I’ve eaten it but never made my own.   Who needs noodles when you have a rice cooker? Two years away from cooking noodles and what do I do?  I added water to a pot, poured in a whole box of noodles and started cooking them.  Then I noticed the sogg!  They turned out so soggy .  I was wondering why.  I had a sneaking suspicion I had done something wrong.  And then a flashback…  Oh, right, bring the water to a boil and then add water.  If you don’t you get soggy noodles.  And they were soggy.  I doused them in marinara sauce and covered them with parmesan cheese…it was almost enough to convince me it was a great meal.  I can not believe it has taken me two years to forget how to make something as simple as noodles.  And I laughed when I realized I cooked the pasta as if I was cooking rice in my rice cooker.  “Just add water and wait for it to get soft.”  I’m being Asian-ized!  I forgot how to cook noodles.  I wonder what else I’ve forgotten?