Rustichella d'Abruzzo Anellini

Anellini, meaning "small little rings" in Italian, is one of the first pasta shapes that children learn to eat in Italy. But these fun pasta circles aren't just for kids. In fact, Italians also use anellini to prepare timballo, an impressive celebratory dish in which pasta, meat and cheese are layered in a bowl-shaped pan, baked and then (tada!) inverted to reveal a dome-shaped delight. Of course, anellini are also excellent in simpler preparations. Try them in soup or, for a homemade take on SpaghettiOs, with a Bolognese or simple tomato sauce.