Pasta recipes

Orzo with marinated portabello mushrooms, simmered in a sundried-tomato and white wine broth with garlic, capers and herbs, then tossed with the orzo. A bold, oil-free vegetarian dinner in under 30 minutes.

Hearty Italian wedding soup simmered for hours with beef shanks, tiny meatballs, vegetables, tomatoes, and small pasta shells. Topped with grated Parmesan for a soul-warming bowl.

Light linguine with white clam sauce made with canned clams simmered in their own briny liquid with onion, parsley, and Parmesan. A low-fat Italian pasta that lets the clean ocean flavor of the clams shine through.

Microwave tuna casserole with broccoli, elbow macaroni, cream of onion soup, and crispy French fried onion topping. A quick comfort food classic in 30 minutes.

Very great orzo and toasted barsley, light and healthy.

Sopa seca turns crumbled vermicelli into a dry Mexican noodle dish with onion, garlic, green chiles, and tomato. Vegetarian and oil-free, the broth cooks down so every strand soaks up flavor.

Hearty Italian bean soup with dried navy beans, tomato sauce, basil, oregano, and whole wheat macaroni. A filling, budget-friendly one-pot meal that's naturally vegan.

Low-calorie broccoli soup blended smooth with carrots, celery, and herbs, studded with whole broccoli buds and elbow macaroni. Creamy comfort without the cream.

Hearty one-pot minestrone loaded with swiss chard, spicy pepperoni, lima beans, and pasta in a savory beef broth. A filling Italian-style soup that feeds six in about 30 minutes.

Very savory and sophisticated, especially for people who need some changes from ordinary pizza. Big hit.

French country soup with beef shank, cabbage, turnips, rutabaga, green beans, and elbow macaroni in a tomato broth seasoned with cloves. A hearty pot-au-feu style meal that simmers for hours.

Hoosier chili is Indiana-style chili with ground beef, kidney beans, stewed tomatoes, and elbow macaroni simmered in a tomato juice and beef stock base. Thick, hearty, and feeds a crowd.

Great northern bean minestrone with carrots, zucchini, cabbage, tomatoes, and elbow macaroni in a basil-oregano broth. Hearty, thick, and full of vegetables.

Layered sausage and macaroni casserole with mushrooms, cottage cheese, and Italian herbs, topped with bread crumbs. A hearty weeknight bake with big savory flavor.

This is an old Ruthenian peasant dish, very popular in the Carpathian Alps, as well as here in Fair Oaks, CA. Great for warming the tummy on a cold winter day. This is easy to prepare, and good as a luncheon dish served with salad, or as a first course soup prior to a lighter entree.

Onion and garlic sautéed in sherry simmer with vegetable stock, canned tomatoes, kidney beans, zucchini, green beans, and small pasta for hearty Italian vegetable soup.