Pastas and Grains

The spice mixture that seasons this pasta is a favorite combination in Tunisia.

This satisfying, light dish is chock full of fresh basil, tomatoes and pasta.

This fresh tomato sauce cooks in the time it takes to cook the pasta.

Grilling vegetables brings out their natural sweetness and adds a smoky richness.

This weeknight pasta gets heartiness from Bolognese, a thick Italian sauce made with tomato sauce, ground beef and a variety of chopped vegetables and seasonings.

This just-picked pasta features the best summer produce: tomatoes, garlic, zucchini, yellow squash and fresh basil.

Depending on where you live, haricots verts—tiny green beans about as thick as a pencil—can be easy or impossible to find. If you can't get them, choose the smallest green beans available.

Not only are whole wheat noodles more nutritious than regular noodles, but they offer an appealing chewiness and hearty flavor. The noodles are cooked in chicken broth for an even richer taste.

Bay scallops or shrimp may substitute for sea scallops in this simple but refined butter sauce for pasta. Fresh ginger provides a defining exotic flavor to the sauce. This is one dish where the subtle taste of flat-leaf Italian parsley--a true counterpoint--makes a difference. Serve with a mixed green salad.

"I've always been the designated family cook" says Carolyn Olesen. "Family members know that as long as they keep my wine glass full and some good classic rock on the stereo, I'll keep cooking." In her quest to find something new and different to serve them, Carolyn experimented with recreating a dish she had tasted years before. Her husband, her barometer for gauging whether a recipe will please the masses, gave this creation a thumbs-up. Serve it with a loaf of crusty bread.