Pasta/2 recipes

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.

Sweet and sour pasta salad with kamut spirals, kidney and black beans, red pepper, scallions, and basil. A protein-packed vegan picnic salad that holds up beautifully for make-ahead lunches.

Slow-simmered spaghetti sauce with ground beef, three types of tomatoes, cream of mushroom soup, and chili powder. Two hours of uncovered cooking builds deep, rich flavor.

A rich flavorful sauce of bacon, cream and eggs defines this quick to prepare Italian classic.

Whole wheat spaghetti tossed with crisp asparagus, smoky mozzarella, prosciutto ribbons, garlic, and fresh basil. A 25-minute Italian pantry pasta with bold flavors and a hint of springtime.

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.

Winter pesto made with fresh parsley and dried basil when fresh basil is out of season. Pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and olive oil blended smooth for pasta, soups, or bread.

British-style seafood lasagne with haddock, cod, and prawns in a cheddar bechamel sauce with sweetcorn, hard-boiled eggs, and parsley. Baked golden for one hour.

Whole wheat noodle casserole with sauteed mushrooms, sunflower seeds, yogurt, and cheese topped with breadcrumbs. A crunchy, creamy vegetarian bake.

Cold crab dip with cream cheese, mayonnaise, sharp aged cheddar, hard-boiled eggs and minced onion. Mixed in 10 minutes and refrigerated. Serve with crackers, toast points or crudites for parties.

Spaghetti in a fresh tomato sauce brightened with orange juice, garlic, basil, and a dash of hot sauce. A simple vegetarian pasta with an unexpected citrus twist.

Spinach pasta frittata made with leftover spaghetti, blanched spinach, fontina, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. A skillet-cooked Italian frittata di pasta with golden crusts on both sides.

Red clam sauce with canned clams, tomato paste, lemon juice, rosemary, and thyme simmered for 15 minutes. A quick Italian-American pasta sauce served over linguine with parmesan.

Crisp cornmeal waffles loaded with crumbled bacon and rendered bacon fat for shattering edges and smoky flavor. Yellow cornmeal gives serious bite while a quick milk-vinegar buttermilk softens the crumb.

Applesauce cake waffles spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Fluffy from folded egg whites, these taste like fall in every crispy bite.

Thai tapioca soup with ground pork, crab meat, garlic, and fish sauce in a savory pork broth. Silky tapioca pearls thicken this fragrant bowl, served over lettuce with fresh cilantro.