I did not know the first thing about making pasta.  In the not so distant past, I often boiled pasta to oblivion and then left it in the cooling water before draining it in a colander because I was simply too busy doing something else- something important like watching Netflix or reading US Weekly magazine.  Many often think of pasta as a kind of last resort meal alternative to ordering take-out.  Boil water, throw in pasta and then throw whatever is in fridge together and eat- preferably standing up while simultaneously clicking away on phone, watching Netflix and posting solipsistic photos on Instagram.  Pasta really can be that easy to make.  And it definitely is a viable and potentially healthful alternative to freebasing Uber Eats.  It also can be incredibly elegant and infinitely more satisfying when following a few essential chronological cooking tips towards making the perfect plate of pasta.