Pasta recipes

Hearty minestrone soup slow-simmered with kidney beans, cabbage, zucchini, leeks, and crushed tomatoes in vegetable broth. A big-batch Italian vegetable soup with macaroni.

Cajun crawfish fettuccine in a rich cream sauce with onion, celery, scallions, and a kick of cayenne. A Louisiana-style pasta dinner ready in 25 minutes.

Microwave mac and cheese loaded with sharp cheddar, luncheon meat strips, and a buttered bread crumb topping. Stovetop-free comfort food that comes together in one casserole dish.

Italian vegetable ragout simmers potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, Swiss chard, zucchini, and chickpeas in a marjoram-scented tomato base. A hearty meatless main over whole wheat pasta or brown rice.

Inside-out ravioli casserole with corkscrew pasta, ground beef, spinach, and a layer of cheddar-egg filling. All the flavors of beef ravioli without rolling a single piece of dough.

Hearty vegetable soup with pot barley, macaroni, cabbage, potatoes, mixed vegetables, and your choice of chicken, beef, or ham. One pot, serves 8, uses up the fridge.

Broiled chicken over fettuccine in a brandy cream sauce with fresh and sundried tomatoes, jalapenos, and basil. A spicy, restaurant-style dinner for two.

Baked mac and cheese the custard way: elbow macaroni folded into an egg-rich blend of evaporated milk, half-and-half, and sour cream with four cheeses, then baked until the top browns. No roux, all creamy.

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.

Thai-style hot and sour vermicelli salad (yam wun sen) with mushrooms, garlic oil, lemon juice, and soy sauce. Vegetarian, light, and packed with texture.

Manicotti Florentine stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, and spinach, baked in marinara sauce. A vegetarian Italian pasta bake with a three-cheese filling and fresh basil.

Four-cheese manicotti stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, Romano, Parmesan, and walnuts, baked in a mushroom bechamel sauce until golden and bubbly. A rich vegetarian pasta bake.

Don's Turkey Mystery: a one-skillet dish with leftover turkey, soy sauce, stewed tomatoes, raisins, and pineapple over vermicelli. Sweet, savory, and ready in 30 minutes.

Orzo salad with sun-dried tomatoes, red bell pepper, olives, and scallions in a mustard red wine vinaigrette. A light, Mediterranean-style cold pasta salad for potlucks and picnics.

Low-calorie baked macaroni and cheese made with skim milk, cottage cheese instead of cheddar, dill, and parsley. Topped with breadcrumbs and paprika for a crispy finish.

Singapore-style spicy peanut noodles toss linguine and shredded red cabbage in a chunky peanut butter sauce with ketchup, brown sugar, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Pantry-friendly weeknight noodle dish.