Linguine

Linguine with Red Clam Sauce

By Peter Rasmussen

Caramelized Onion and Roasted Red Pepper Linguine

Fennel seeds, balsamic vinegar, roasted peppers, and caramelized onions really rev up this easy side dish.

Linguine with Sardines and Parsley

A quick version of the traditional Sicilian dish pasta con le sarde. Accompany it with herbed focaccia topped with goat cheese, as well as a salad of roasted red bell peppers. Finish the meal with a fresh fruit tart. This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Linguine with Calamari and Garlic

Linguine with Shellfish Sauce

(Pasta allo Scoglio) Tuscany is not famous for its seafood dishes, but fantastic fresh fish and shellfish are available all along the coast. A scoglio is a rocky seashore, and in the traditional pasta allo scoglio, only shellfish from the rugged Mediterranean seaside can be used in the sauce. Many kinds of fish are included in the various renditions prepared up and down the Tuscan coast today. Watch how to clean and prepare shellfish and how to make your own pasta.

Pasta with Spicy Shrimp and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Bonnie Wilkens Metully of Cincinnati, Ohio, writes: "Having two very active teenagers means I've also had to learn how to put together an interesting dinner even on busy nights. I get inspiration from my favorite bedtime reading, an immense collection of cookbooks and food magazines. I also do a quick grocery run every day —usually because I've just read about a dish that I simply must try —but also because having a well-stocked refrigerator is the key to easier cooking."

By Bonnie Wilkens Metully

Linguine with Mussels

Garlicky Linguine with Crab, Red Bell Pepper and Pine Nuts

Parmesan isn't usually served with seafood pasta, but the cheese adds a nice richness to this linguine.

Pasta with Creamy Wild Mushroom Sauce

Look for dried wild mushrooms at most supermarkets; they lend a wonderful richness to this dish, which is great with garlic bread. Begin with a colorful salad of escarole and roasted red bell peppers, and finish with a winter fruit salad of sliced bananas and kiwi, fresh pineapple chunks and red grapes.

Teriyaki Chicken and Noodles

Offer a salad of snow peas and sliced radishes in a ginger vinaigrette. End with oranges and almond cookies. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Linguine with Winter Pesto

This parsley-based pesto is a nice alternative to the classic basil one--and it's especially handy for December, when there might not be fresh basil at the market. The recipe yields about 1 1/3 cups of sauce.