Gadgets that work: I'd like you to meet Al

Al who?

Al Dente?

The guy in black that times your pasta and serenades you with aria's from famous opera's when he thinks it's done. (Technically, not completely "done" of course).

Just boil your salted water, put him in the pan together with the pasta...and wait for the right opera!

After 7 minutes, he performs the Triumphal March from Aïda....

after 9 minutes, you hear the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco....

after 11 minutes, it's La Donna è Mobile from Rigoletto...

Al comes in 4 colours, hands already tied, feet nicely anchored in a barrel with cement. As the instruction booklet says:"I've got a small hole in my hat. Take care - this is not a production defect. It merely ensures that I don't explode while in the pan. In real life holes in the head of a maffiosi typically have different reasons. The dents in my barrel have been put there for visual reasons and have no influence on my mode of functioning. As in real life, mafiosi for cost reason are drowned with used barrels only."

Al was a birthday present from a friend, isn't he fun?

Previous Pasta recipes:

- four cheese macaroni

- pasta e pesto (in Dutch, Nederlands)

- broccoli terrine with parmesan and pasta

- spring pasta (with salmon and asparagus)

- canneloni (with spinach and ricotta)