Puglicious Pastas and Loaves to Love

Pasta didn't really become popular in the U.S. until the late 1800s and early 1900s, when so many Italians immigrated to this country. today, it is one of the most common dishes on the American dinner table. pasta became popular in canned dog food in the late 1990s. it is a great source of healthy carbohydrates, a necessity for dogs. when I was in Italy in 1992, i was surprised to find a pet store in Florence offering 20-, 40-, and 60-pound bags of dried pasta—for dogs.

Loaves are among my favorite recipes to prepare for my boys. They are exceptionally easy to make, they freeze beautifully, and most of all, my dogs absolutely love them. the loaves in this chapter have fun twists to them that make them look really pretty when served and offer extra nutritional value. When I prepare these recipes, I like to use my silicone mini-loaf pan, which MAKES 12 MINI-LOAVES, SO THAT I END UP WITH 12 CONVENIENT SINGLE SERVINGS.

If you don't have a mini-loaf pan but want to make mini-loaves rather than one large loaf, spray your largest cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray and fit as many freeform loaves in a row as you can. the average 9-x-12 cookie sheet will hold 6 loaves. you can also make one large freeform loaf in a 9-x-9 baking dish and slice it into single serving portions.