Cream cheese (8 oz): Philadelphia only. Low-fat = gluey disaster. Must be room temp (cold = lumpy texture).
Sour cream (¼ cup): Full-fat, room temp. Light sour cream = broken texture.
Cottage cheese (1 cup): Full-fat, room temp. Low-fat = watery disaster.
🌿 The Cheese Foundation
Cheddar (to taste): Sharp white block-cut (not pre-shredded!). Pre-shredded = wax-coated tragedy.
Spices: None needed—Rao’s sauce = perfect balance (Nonna’s rule: “Respect the pomodoro”).
Olive oil: Lusty Tuscan extra-virgin. Avoid “light” oil—it’s flavorless.
Pro tip: Buy spaghetti on Tuesday. That’s when Italian Market restocks—richest, most flavorful.
Step-by-Step: Nonna Lucia’s Kitchen Wisdom
Follow these like a prayer chanted over hot oil
1. Cook the Pasta (The Foundation)
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