Forget the legend of Marco Polo bringing noodles from the Far East back to Italy.

While there is a connection between the two regions thanks to the aforementioned Mr. Polo, it's highly doubtful that the link extends to the noodles of Eurasia to those of Italy, according to Culinary Lore, a website dedicated to food science, history and more.

What is known: Marco Polo traveled to China around 1271 and returned to Italy around 1292. In his book "Description of the World," written while a political prisoner in Genoa following his return from China, Polo mentions noodles. However, the website reports that Polo's descriptions indicate an existing familiarity with pasta and was using what he already knew to talk about what he'd encountered in China.

"Whether Polo knew of noodles is unclear, but he does not seem to have made any special mention of filamentous noodles, nor did he find the idea of doughs of this type to be anything new," Culinary Lore reports on the website.

Other writings, predating Polo's book, mention a "food made from flour in the form of strings" in Sicily by Idrisi, an Arab traveler, in 1154. Other clues that the legend is nothing more than an entertaining story, are documents dating from 1440, 1279 and 1284 and held at the Spaghetti Museum in Pontedassio, Imperia, that refer to several types of pasta, the website reports.

Culinary Lore says it's possible the noodles are native to Italy or introduced by Arabs who dominated Sicily back in the day. It's also not a stretch that lasagna was cut into strips by an enterprising unknown person, before being boiled in water or milk to expedite the process — eventually leading to what we know today.

It also wasn't until the addition of tomatoes, that spaghetti REALLY took off, according to the website.

While the origins of noodles, spaghetti especially, may be lost to history, what matters that somehow, some way, culinary magic led to a modern day favorite of kids and adults alike. Endlessly versatile, with the ability to customize it based on preferences, ingredients on hand and more, meat or not, spaghetti is a dish that easy to love and quick to fix.

It's also a Christmas dish.

Christmas, you ask? Christmas, I reply. While spaghetti may not seem like a traditional holiday meal, the Hoot Owl's annual fundraiser for the Sandpoint Lions’ Toys for Tots campaign is one of the tastiest benefits around.

For more than 15 years, the Hoot Owl has hosted the event to raise money to make Christmas merry for the community’s children. This year’s spaghetti feed is Friday, Dec. 10, from 4-7 p.m. at the Hoot Owl in Ponderay.

The Hoot Owl donates the spaghetti, along with the help of their suppliers, the use of the restaurant, and the restaurant’s wait staff works for free. That means every penny raised at the fundraiser goes to the Lions’ Christmas program.

If you’re looking for a good meal — and a chance to stay out of the kitchen — while helping a great cause, head over to the Hoot Owl today to enjoy a delicious spaghetti dinner.

Today's generous donations total $3,540 and come from: Terry Albertson, $40 and a bag of toys; Paul and Nancy Thompson, $100; Gayle and Kevin Downard (in memory of Ryan Moore and Randi Herron), $100; Walter and Peggy Ferrell, $50; Millie Rinker, $100; Bonner County Sportsmen's Foundation, $100; Bernie Meeker, $50; The Floor Show, Inc, $100; Douglas Easton, $500; anonymous, $50; the Gooby Family, $950; Kenneth and Kathleen Conger, $100; Lynda Roberts, $1,000; Shirley Chatfield, $100; Delbert Bader, $100; and Roland and Theresa Richardson, $100.

Also as previously noted, Eva May Whitehead and the Whitehead Family donated $1,000 to this year's campaign.

To date, the annual Christmas drive has raised $17,483 of the Sandpoint Lion's goal of $50,000 for this year’s Toys for Tots campaign — the same as it has been in past years. The Lions make the most of the money by bargain shopping, and with the assistance of generous local businesses.

Sign-up applications are available at the Bonner Community Food Bank and on the door of the Lions Den at 609 S. Ella Avenue right by the caboose in Lakeview Park. They can also be downloaded at bit.ly/3x7md4o.

Registration started Nov. 1 and ends on Dec. 17. Those filling out the application are reminded to be sure to fill out both pages and return your application promptly.

As last year, the application form includes information for parents to detail a wish list for each of their children as well as their favorite color and TV show or movie. This allows the Lions to fulfill as many wishes as they can.

Donations for Toys for Tots can be dropped off at the front desk at the Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also drop off donations at Columbia Bank’s Sandpoint branch, 414 Church St., or at the Ponderay branch, 300 Bonner Mall Way; and at the Ponderay and Sandpoint Starbucks.

Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Donations made by check are preferred. Be sure to include a note with your check indicating that it is a Toys for Tots donation. If you wish to make an anonymous donation, please include a note.

If the donation is being made in someone’s name, be sure to also include a note.

Information: Sandpoint Lions Club, 208-263-4118