Pasta is one of my favorite foods, and the nice thing about it is that it goes with almost anything and can be eaten all year round, as a warming comfort food or in a salad. The shapes are intriguing, from butterflies to shells to bells to wheels, and while the dishes I choose specify a kind of pasta, you can certainly make substitutions. I also suggest using whole grain pasta where you can to add some extra fiber.
My favorite kind of pasta is orecchiette, though I confess that it's simply love saying the word. I almost feel Italian by saying it! Orecchiette is so named because of its resemblance to a little ear. This recipe for orecchiette, ricotta, spinach and fava beans is an ideal spring or summer dish. You can enjoy it hot, cold, or at room temperature. And if you can't find fava beans, or you don't much care for them, use peas or asparagus instead, or both.More »
This dish is more about the sauce than it is the pasta, but together, they make a wonderful combination. Angel hair or spaghetti works best here. And do use room temperature tomatoes fresh from the farmers market for best flavor. It's simple dish, but oh so good.More »
A summer picnic wouldn't be the same without a macaroni salad, but all too often such salads are drenched in mayonnaise, whereas I prefer a mere coating. To make this salad lower in fat, I mix fat-free mayonnaise with another ingredient, which adds both to its tang and texture.More »
This low fat pasta salad will always be known as Mermaid salad in our house, as my daughters thought it would be fitting for Ariel the Little Mermaid to eat such a dish. Colorful and multi-textured, this salad is perfect for lunch or to take to a picnic or potluckMore »
Break out of the mac and cheese mold with this delicious baked pumpkin pasta dish. Perfect for fall, this pumpkin pasta makes a great weeknight meal on cold evenings.More »
If you are looking for some lower-fat comfort food, look no further than this yummy chicken and zucchini lasagna. You can use ground chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken breast.More »
This meatless, low-fat lasagna is chock full of colorful vegetables, making this a healthy and nutritious supper dish. You can even prepare this vegetable lasagna ahead of time and refrigerate it until you're ready to cook. If you do, let the lasagna stand at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before placing it in the oven.More »
1. Orecchiette with Ricotta, Spinach and Fava Beans
My favorite kind of pasta is orecchiette, though I confess that it's simply love saying the word. I almost feel Italian by saying it! Orecchiette is so named because of its resemblance to a little ear. This recipe for orecchiette, ricotta, spinach and fava beans is an ideal spring or summer dish. You can enjoy it hot, cold, or at room temperature. And if you can't find fava beans, or you don't much care for them, use peas or asparagus instead, or both.More »
2. Spaghetti with Fresh Tomatoes
This dish is more about the sauce than it is the pasta, but together, they make a wonderful combination. Angel hair or spaghetti works best here. And do use room temperature tomatoes fresh from the farmers market for best flavor. It's simple dish, but oh so good.More »
3. Low Fat Macaroni Salad
A summer picnic wouldn't be the same without a macaroni salad, but all too often such salads are drenched in mayonnaise, whereas I prefer a mere coating. To make this salad lower in fat, I mix fat-free mayonnaise with another ingredient, which adds both to its tang and texture.More »
4. Tuna and Shell Pasta Salad
This low fat pasta salad will always be known as Mermaid salad in our house, as my daughters thought it would be fitting for Ariel the Little Mermaid to eat such a dish. Colorful and multi-textured, this salad is perfect for lunch or to take to a picnic or potluckMore »
5. Baked Pumpkin Pasta
Break out of the mac and cheese mold with this delicious baked pumpkin pasta dish. Perfect for fall, this pumpkin pasta makes a great weeknight meal on cold evenings.More »
6. Chickena and Zucchini Lasagna
If you are looking for some lower-fat comfort food, look no further than this yummy chicken and zucchini lasagna. You can use ground chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken breast.More »
7. Low Fat Vegetable Lasagna
This meatless, low-fat lasagna is chock full of colorful vegetables, making this a healthy and nutritious supper dish. You can even prepare this vegetable lasagna ahead of time and refrigerate it until you're ready to cook. If you do, let the lasagna stand at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before placing it in the oven.More »