Pasta/4 recipes

Cincinnati chili: a thin, fragrant ground beef sauce spiced with cinnamon, allspice, and cumin, ladled over spaghetti and topped with shredded cheddar, raw onion, and oyster crackers. The Ohio classic.

Cold chicken pasta salad with sharp cheddar, pepperoni, and Belgian endive in Italian dressing. A make-ahead dish that's even better after chilling overnight.

Butter-seared chicken breast simmered in white wine, heavy cream, and chewy sun-dried tomatoes with a hint of Cajun spice. Ready in 40 minutes, serve over pasta for a rich weeknight dinner.

A fragrant homemade Chinese ten-spice blend with toasted star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, fennel, coriander, and cumin. Toast, grind, and store for marinades, stir-fries, sauces, and meat rubs.

Creamy broccoli lasagna layered with Swiss cheese, cottage cheese, and a velvety bouillon-spiked white sauce. A meatless casserole that turns weeknight pasta into something hearty.

Garden squash and nasturtium butter pasta with tagliatelle, squash blossoms, and a compound butter made from fresh nasturtium flowers, shallots, thyme, and savory. A seasonal garden-to-table dish.

Spinach ricotta gnocchi tossed in a simple butter-cream Parmesan sauce. Handmade Italian green gnocchi that are light, pillowy, and freezer-friendly.

Pasta e fagioli the proper Italian way: dried red kidney beans slow-baked with sage and garlic, then simmered with pancetta and a sofrito of carrot, celery, and onion. Half the beans get pureed for that signature silky, stew-thick body.

Mediterranean turkey casserole with egg noodles, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, and two cheeses in a white wine cream sauce. A great way to use leftover turkey.

Tuscan-style white beans simmered with sage, garlic, plum tomatoes, and chicken broth. Dried beans cooked from scratch for a creamy, rustic Italian side or pasta topping.

Irish-style spaghetti sauce with ground beef, red wine, tomato puree, chicken broth, and a warm hint of nutmeg. Simmered for an hour into a rich, velvety meat sauce.

Italian no-cook tomato cucumber summer salad with red onion, basil, parsley, and a touch of red pepper flakes. Italian-style topping for bruschetta or tossed cold with pasta.

Elegant Italian pasta rolls stuffed with three cheeses, smoked ham, and prosciutto, poached in chicken broth and served over fresh tomato sauce. A masterchef-worthy showpiece.

Soy-marinated beef strips stir-fried with carrots, green beans, and onion, then piled over spaghetti in a glossy ginger-garlic sauce. An easy Asian-Italian fusion dinner the whole family will love.

Butter-sauteed shrimp deglazed with white wine, served over thin pasta with a slow-simmered Provencal tomato sauce rich with basil and oregano. Worth every minute of the long, lazy simmer.

Spaghetti with fresh tomatoes and arugula tossed in a quick shallot and garlic sauce with red pepper flakes. A peppery, vegan pasta dinner ready in under an hour.