Pasta recipes

Italian Parmesan risotto topped with garlicky pan-toasted mushrooms. Creamy rice built one ladle of broth at a time, finished with Parmigiano-Reggiano and crowned with golden mushrooms.

An easy to make faux Alfredo sauce. This recipe, on further analysis, is too difficult for a person on crutches.

Spicy jalapeno pesto with fresh basil, parsley, pine nuts, and garlic. A no-cook, no-cheese pesto with a kick of green heat that's ready in 5 minutes flat.

Chicken tequila pasta with poached chicken in a tomato sauce spiked with half a cup of tequila, lime juice, cumin, coriander, and cayenne, tossed with noodles and topped with Parmesan.

Sun-dried tomato pesto: oil-packed sundried tomatoes blended with parmigiano-reggiano, toasted walnuts, garlic, and warm olive oil. A deeper, more savory alternative to basil pesto.

Sausage spaghetti carbonara-style with Italian sausage, crispy bacon, beaten eggs, and Parmesan tossed into hot pasta. A hearty 30-minute weeknight dinner with just 5 ingredients.

A lighter noodle casserole made with low-fat cottage cheese, skim milk, carrots, and mushrooms seasoned with basil and thyme. Diabetic-friendly and big enough to feed a crowd. Serves 12.

Savory-sweet waffles with ground ham, applesauce, cinnamon, and brown sugar folded into a light batter with whipped egg whites. A hearty brunch waffle with built-in protein.

Egg drop and noodle soup with Parmesan cheese, spinach, and egg noodles in chicken broth. An Italian-inspired twist on classic egg drop soup ready in 30 minutes.

This delicious meat sauce made with minced carrots, celery and succulent ground veal tastes wonderful with any kid of pasta you like.

Italian rabbit skewers from the Molise region: boneless rabbit wrapped in Parma ham with sausages and sage, grilled or oven-roasted. A rustic showpiece.

Pesto Toscano made with fresh kale, garlic, and olive oil instead of traditional basil. A robust Tuscan pesto with just 4 ingredients, no nuts, and no cheese required.

Fusilli with vegetables: a fresh Italian pasta sauce of zucchini, plum tomatoes, garlic, shallots, and herbs simmered in olive oil. Summer garden produce tossed with corkscrew pasta and a shower of parmesan.

Classic three-cheese manicotti stuffing with ricotta, diced mozzarella, Parmesan, and eggs. A quick no-cook filling that pipes or spoons into manicotti shells for a rich, creamy Italian dinner.

Shrimp and tomato in scallop shells with garlic, fennel seed, lime juice, and parsley. A quick, elegant appetizer or light main that comes together in 30 minutes.

Artichoke Hearts, Carrot and Tortellini Salad recipe