Recipe calls for 2 cups cooked macaroni. Is that...?

Ignacio Imbier: In order to get 2 cups of cooked elbow macaroni, you need to measure out about 1/2 - 3/4 cup of dry and cook it. It kind of depends on what kind of dry macaroni you have. Small elbows, shells, etc.If you cook a little more than you need, it's not a big deal since pasta is not expensive.

Sook Hershkowitz: hi matt! What are the Basic Cooking Terms? : To follow a recipe there are certain basic cooking terms that you should first get familiar with. While dicing and slicing may sound similar, they are actually two very different processes, and may affect the final outcome of the dish. Here are some basic cooking terms so that the next time you flip through a cook book, you will be able to understand what you are reading: Al dente â€" If you like pasta, then you’ll have to familiarize yourself with this term. It basically means cooking the pasta so that it still has a little bite to it and it doesn’t become a soggy mess. Baste â€" When you baste meat! with marinade or sauce while it is cooking. Roast chicken or lamb benefits from being basted with all the juices in pan, so that meat still remains moist. Blanch â€" There are some vegetables that need to be cooked very briefly and should be dropped into boiling water for a minute. Tomatoes and other fruits or vegetables can be blanched if you wish to remove the skin. Dice â€" When ingredients are chopped into neat cubes. Fillet â€" Filleting requires a certain amount of skill. Meat and fish are filleted to remove bones. Marinate â€" A marinade or sauce is made and the fish or meat is left in it to soak up all its juices before it is cooked. Depending on the dish, the meat is left to marinate from a few minutes to even overnight. It is always left in the refrigerator. Purée â€" This procedure is finer than mashing, but they are very similar. Creamy potatoes might need to be puréed. A food processor or a sieve can be used. Vegetables like sweet potatoes and peas can also ! be puréed. Sauté â€" When food is briefly cooked over high h! eat. Onions and chopped bacon are generally sautéed. Slice â€" Slicing means to cut food into neat and even pieces. Tips in Basic Cooking: Here are a few basic cooking tips to get started: If you’re a beginner, select recipes that aren’t too complicated. Read the recipe from the beginning till the end so that you don’t miss out on any utensils, ingredients or appliances. Understand all the cooking instructions. Make sure you have adequate time to make the dish. Before starting, assemble all the ingredients in one place to make things easier for you. These are just a few of the basic cooking tips that you should know before you actually get started....Show more

Bianca Lannier: You're right, macaroni doubles in volume when cooked.Since the recipe says 2 cups cooked, start with 1 cup dry.

Lindsey Zanardi: Definitely after it has been cooked. It's not important how much dry to put in. Macaroni is the cheapest food around. Better to have a bit too much than! not enough.