Pasta with Cauliflower and Anchovy Sauce by Nancy Miyasaki

This is a wonderful, mild flavored pasta we've adapted from Marcella Hazan. I know it sounds like an odd combination of ingredients, but you should definitely try it. It's unlike any pasta you have likely eaten before, and it is quite tasty. We will definitely make it again. Serve with the roasted broccoli below for a nice…

Tuscan shrimp marinara with chickpea pasta by John Spottiswood

This is a great Tuscan recipe adapted from the Flavors of Tuscan cookbook by Maxine Clark. Maxine recommends making fresh chickpea pasta. We use Barilla Plus pasta, which is made with chickpeas just like Maxine recommends. By skipping making your own pasta, this becomes a very easy and healthy dish.

Lemon-butter Linguini with Peppery Shirmp by John Spottiswood

It always surprises me when black pepper is used in such quantity that it makes a dish truly spicy, since we so often use it as a mild addititve. That's the case with this dish. The black pepper generates a welcome heat which is cut nicely by the lemony pasta. You'll enjoy this one! Adapted from a recipe in Cooking Light.

Spaghetti with Clam and Tomato sauce by John Spottiswood

This is one of my favorite last minute, throw together pastas. I generally use canned clams and canned Italian plum tomatoes (except in the summer/fall when wonderful fresh roma tomatoes are available), so this requires only a trip to the pantry. Our kids enjoy this as well. Recommended pasta: Spaghettini, thin spaghetti, takes to…

Spaghetti alle vongole (Spaghetti with Clam Sauce) by Frank Fariello

A Friday night favorite at our place is spaghetti with clam sauce, one of the signature dishes of Neapolitan cuisine. It is surprisingly easy to make, fun (if a bit messy) to eat and—if you have some good, fresh clams on hand—really, really tasty.

Pasta Paella by Nancy Miyasaki

An easy and great tasting recipe. If you like the flavor of paella, you'll love this pasta. I've made this as well as true paella, and I think my family likes this better. Elegant enough to serve with company, but easy and kid friendly enough to have any week night. Give it a shot!

Tagliatelle al tonno e panna by Frank Fariello

Here's a dish for iconoclasts: tagliatelle with tunafish simmered in butter, cream and parmesan cheese—a dish that violates one of the cardinal rules of Italian cooking: never mix fish and aged cheese. But this may be one of those exceptions that prove the rule, as the result is really very good.

Spaghetti alla cipolla rossa e alici by Frank Fariello

This was not a dish my grandmother Angelina ever made, as far as I know, but it is certainly the kind of pasta-cum-vegetable dish that formed the foundation of her culinary repertoire. The robust flavor and texture of the onion and anchovy sauce would go well with other long pasta shapes like linguine or even bucatini.

Linguine with Wine and White Clam Sauce by Vivien