Pasta recipes

Microwave seafood marinara with fresh tuna, mushrooms, black olives, basil, and Roma tomatoes over whole wheat pasta. A quick weeknight Italian dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Antipasto pasta salad with salami, provolone, garbanzo beans, olives, and mushrooms in a lemon-garlic-basil dressing. A make-ahead party dish that gets better as it chills.

Rotini with marinated shiitake mushrooms, prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, pine nuts, and Parmesan in a white wine broth. An Italian pasta with deep, layered umami flavor.

No-cook sun-dried tomato and olive pesto with pine nuts, fresh parsley, shallots, and garlic. A bold, savory alternative to traditional basil pesto.

Rustic Italian spaghetti from the Ciociaria region with plum tomatoes, sweet peppers, oil-cured olives, and Romano cheese. A bold, no-meat pasta that's ready in under an hour.

Lemon herbed chicken made in a pressure cooker with parsley, oregano, basil, celery leaves, and black olives. Tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken in just 8 minutes under pressure.

Puttanesca sauce with briny olives, capers, and red pepper flakes simmered in crushed Roma tomatoes and tossed with spaghetti for a bold, punchy weeknight pasta.

Creamy vodka spaghetti with vermouth, lime, jalapeno, and fresh cilantro. A cocktail-inspired twist on vodka pasta that's equal parts bold and luxurious, ready in 35 minutes.

Once upon a time I was reading a magazine article about good cooking. The journalist tried to convince me not to use some combinations of ingredients. One of the "banned" combinations mentioned was green and black olives. And so this soup was born to enjoy me.

Golden chicken, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and mostaccioli pasta tossed in a velvety homemade bechamel sauce with a pinch of cayenne. An Italian-American comfort bowl ready in 30 minutes.

A light main or hearty side dish, pearls of couscous with grilled veggies and a Lemon-Balsamic dressing.

During the fall and winter I make homemade soup once a week. I’ve got dozens of delicious soup recipes, but the Pizza Soup was the favorite of our sons, Keith and Mark. It’s really easy to make. I apologize for the inexact quantities, but this is another recipe that I’ve never written down…and haven’t made it since last winter! I’ve given the basic recipe, but don’t be afraid to add other items you enjoy on your pizza…including a dash of red pepper sauce!

Mexican lasagna layers seasoned ground beef, refried beans, salsa, and a Monterey Jack-cheddar blend between lasagna noodles, finished with a sour cream and olive topping. Big-batch, freezer-friendly weeknight dinner.

Cajun shrimp pasta salad loaded with boiled shrimp, hard-boiled eggs, elbow macaroni, black olives, and dill pickles. A crowd-sized cold salad built for potlucks and family reunions.

A classic meatloaf shaped into a dome, glazed with ketchup and brown sugar, then wrapped in pappardelle pasta strips to look like a mummy. Mozzarella and olive eyes complete the spooky look.

Italian style ingredients prepared in a wok. This makes an easy healthy dinner.