Pasta/6 recipes

Red chili nightmare: a wild Mexican-style red chili with beef, sausage, pinto beans, almonds, sesame, chocolate, and a dozen green chiles. Mole-inspired, fiery, and not for the timid.

Wild mushroom and pasta souffle folds fine egg noodles and sauteed wild mushrooms into a porcini-Parmesan bechamel, lightened with whipped egg whites so it bakes up airy and golden. An elegant mushroom-lover's main.

Crawfish au gratin baked in a rich double-cheddar sauce with sauteed bell pepper, celery, and onion. A bubbly, cheesy Cajun casserole that's pure Louisiana comfort food.

Salsa pesto blends fresh basil, garlic, and onion with butter, olive oil, Parmesan, and toasted pine nuts for a richer, creamier spin on classic Genovese pesto. Toss with pasta, spread on grilled bread, or spoon over roast chicken.

Classic Italian lasagna with a homemade ground beef and tomato meat sauce, cottage cheese and egg filling, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Layered, baked, and worth every minute.

Mexican style lasagne with enchilada sauce, black beans, cottage cheese, and cheddar, layered with uncooked noodles that bake right in the sauce. Vegetarian, feeds 6 to 8, one pan cleanup.

Grilled lamb chops with Gorgonzola cream sauce reduced from white wine, heavy cream, blue cheese, and butter. A steakhouse-style entree for special-occasion dinners.

Raw zucchini and yellow squash salad with Roma tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, green onions, and apple cider vinegar. Low-fat, vegan, and versatile over pasta or rice.

Stir-fried rice noodles tossed with garlic, ginger, shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, and fresh basil, finished with crushed peanuts and lime. A vegan Thai noodle dish ready in under 40 minutes.

Pasta frittata turns leftover spaghetti, cooked vegetables, and shredded cheese into a one-skillet meal bound with eggs. Italian frugal cooking at its smartest, ready in 15 minutes.

Steamed corn pones are simple masa dough logs wrapped in softened corn husks and steamed until tender. A rustic Mexican-Southern US sidekick to beans, chili, or stews.

Ratatouille spaghetti pie turns a pressed spaghetti crust into the base for a chunky eggplant, zucchini, and pepper ratatouille, topped with pepperoni and a Parmesan-breadcrumb crust. A veg-packed pasta bake.

Noodle and mushroom souffle layered with ground beef, leeks, tomatoes, and melted cheese, then set with an egg-cream custard. Hearty German-style nudelauflauf for a family dinner.

A tasty family meat sauce that is super flavorful.

Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with seasoned turkey, celery, and cheese, baked in creamy cheddar sauce. Freezer-friendly comfort food.

Les oreilles de cochon are Cajun pig's ear pastries, fried thin dough drizzled with cane syrup. A Louisiana French Acadian holiday tradition served warm. Crisp, sweet, irregular shape.