The town is overflowing with pasta! There's no end in sight! The villagers are doomed! And then they aren't.
The town's fate and Big Anthony's punishment are handled expeditiously by our title character, which is fitting: she is, after all, magic. And as the village elder and local wise woman, she pronounces a punishment that fits Big Anthony's crime. She hands him a fork and tells him to start eating, which he does. The simplicity of this solution to all the chaos reinforces our view of Strega Nona as mystical and wise, while also solidifying the story's status as a folktale.
No complex explanations for the magical pot's workings, Big Anthony's motivations, or the villagers' anger are necessary. And we don't need to look any further than the last illustration (36) to know that Big Anthony is remorseful. In true folktale fashion, dePaola neatly wraps up his tale with Big Anthony's expression telling us a lesson has been learned, and Strega Nona's peaceful smile indicating that they will live happily ever after. (Until the next Strega Nona adventure, at least.)