Orsetti:

This is a specialty pasta made by Dalla Costa that's obviously aimed at children: red, white and green teddy bears. They're about an inch long and a half-inch thick; the cooking time, they say, is 5-7 minutes.

Possible substitutions: Pipette rigate, pipe.

In terms of a sauce, something made with chicken and zucchini:

Orsetti alla Veneta -- Venetian Teddy Bears

• To serve 5-6, you'll need
• 1 1/8 pounds (500 g) Orsetti (penne will also work)
• 1/2 a chicken breast
• 1 zucchino
• A tomato
• A quarter onion
• One tablespoon olive oil
• Minced parsley
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano

Dice the chicken breast, zucchino and tomato. Mince the onion and sauté it in a large skillet in the oil until it becomes translucent, then add the chicken and the zucchino and cook until the chicken is done, seasoning everything to taste with salt and pepper.

In the meantime, bring pasta water to a boil, salt it, and cook the pasta. Drain the pasta and turn it out into the skillet with the chicken mixture. Stir in the tomato and parsley, heat through over a brisk flame, and serve with the cheese

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