I make it as soon as it gets cold. Chickpeas not only add a pop of texture and protein but also act as a thickener. The tomato-rich broth is imparted with the salty, savory flavor of Parmesan and earthy rosemary. Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser Trust me: Every spoonful tastes like a big, warm Italian hug....

Pasta Fagioli: An Italian Staple Pasta e fagioli, or just pasta fagioli. I knewand lovedthis dish years before I knew how to spell it. Variations of Pasta Fagioli It’s also a dish of a thousand variations. Elise Bauer Some cooks make a pasta e fagioli that’s so thick, it’s basically a pasta dish. Some people use so much tomato the fazool looks like a tomato soup with pasta and beans....

Angel hair pasta with sauteed shrimp, garlic, tomatoes, and basil. What’s your go-to quick midweek meal? Mine often involves angel hair pasta, because it cooks in only 3 minutes. Elise Bauer My other standby is shrimp, which also cooks almost as fast. September is peak tomato season here in Sacramento, even more than August. Our tomatoes are all ripening at once, catching the last rays of sunshine before we slip into fall....

Ready in a snap. So simple and so good. Of all the dishes Ive cooked over the years, pasta puttanesca holds a special place in my heart. Elise Bauer Done and drinking beer (or doing homework) in 30 minutes. What Does Puttanesca Mean? It was only later that I learned the origins of this sauce. Elise Bauer I might have snickered. So do newspaper reporters. All these years later, I still make puttanesca whenever I am tired or stressed....

Perfect pasta picnic salad! With corn, bacon, basil, and buttermilk ranch dressing. Here’s a great picnic salad for the end of summerwith pasta andcorn. Elise Bauer We’re usingorecchiettepasta for the salad. The pasta is a perfect shape for catching the kernels of corn and other ingredients. it’s possible for you to either use your favorite buttermilk ranch dressing, ormake your own. Elise Bauer (It’s easy! Especially if you have buttermilk sitting around waiting to be used....

Butternut squash Parmesan sauce elevates simple spaghetti. One of the best things about fall is the abundance of pumpkins and hardy winter squash. Perhaps because if stored in a cool place, they’ll last several months, well into winter. Elise Bauer Butternut squash is the queen of winter squashes. Be careful when you cut the squash, winter squash are hard! Then cut down the middle. This will lightly soften the outside of the squash, making it easier to cut it....

Move over kale, cauliflower is now the “it girl” these days. There are just so many wonderful dishes it’s possible for you to make with it! This simple pasta with cauliflower, tomato, and Parmesan is a great example. Elise Bauer I’ve adapted the recipe from a Sicilian recipe by Vincent Schiavelli that appeared years ago inSaveur. Okay, so I’m weird. I’ll take cauliflower any which way (though IMHOroastedis best) and anchovies?...

Quick, easy, cheesy, comforting, and ready in 30 minutes. It’s the holidays, which means that friends and relatives will cancel or appear at the last minute. Are we having 14 people over? Elise Bauer This is why in addition to theenchiladasI brought to our recent neighborhood holiday party I also brought aglazed ham. This pasta dish couldn’t be easier and comes together as quickly as it takes to boil the pasta....

“What are your favorite foods?” Then the next question is, “what’s your favorite recipe?” Take my friend Bruce. Elise Bauer Bruce loves to cook, has for as long as I’ve known him, over 20 years. He even contributed this winner to the site last yearthegreen salsa chicken bake. When he was visiting the other day, our chatter naturally turned to recipes. Elise Bauer Sometimes he swaps out the sausage for shrimp....

This is a classic Venetian pasta dish with slow roasted duck, garlic, rosemary, and lemon. Guest contributorHank ShawofHunter, Angler, Gardener, Cookshares one of his favorite pasta dishes. Sensuous and savory, this simple pasta and duck recipe is perfect for a romantic dinner. Elise Bauer Could you use another shape? Dont go too thin or too thick angel hair or ziti arent right for this dish. If you do this right, both the sauce and the pasta will be done at the same time....

There are never enough pasta recipes, right? This one combines frozen artichokes and spinach in a creamy ricotta sauce. It’s on the table in less under 30 minutes. Sally Vargas Easy Prep With Frozen Artichokes Frozen artichoke hearts are your friends here. You dont need to do all that thetedious peeling and cooking. If you have time, let them sit out for 10 minutes or so to partially defrost. Sally Vargas...

Your choice of pasta topped with a garlicky sauce, wilted arugula, and canned tuna. Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer Best use of canned tuna ever! It has since become one of my favorite quick and easy go-to dinners. Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer The arugula will wilt in the heat of the pasta. If you don’t have arugula, you could substitute fresh baby spinach for a similar effect. This recipe requires tuna canned in olive oil....

One of my favorite dishes on this site is thetuna, arugula, chili pepper, pastarecipe. If you like canned tuna and pasta, you must try this. you gotta use tuna packed in olive oil. Elise Bauer In a large, wide saute pan, heat a couple tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat. Add the chopped onion and chili pepper flakes and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes or so. Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat to low....