How to make a pasta drying rack

Contrary to popular belief, pasta was not discovered by Marco Polo during his trip though China. The Etruscans were likely making pasta in 400 B.C., as evidenced by a bas-relief carving north of Rome that includes the needed tools — a flour bin, pastry wheel and a rolling-out table. Whatever its origins, pasta has become a staple of the U.S. diet. Although worldwide more than 600 pasta shapes are available, many cooks are turning to their own kitchens to create simple strands of spaghetti and fettuccine. Fresh pasta can be made with basic ingredients and tools, but needs a drying rack to hold it until the moisture is gone. The design is simple: a vertical pole with horizontal arms to hold the pasta and a base to hold the pole.