Topics:
Pasta: 7 different ways to make it
Pasta is a great way to combine your favourite ingredients in one delicious dish. Here are some quick and easy recipes that the whole family will love.
-
The possibilities are endless
Pasta is such a great base for any dish, because there is so much you can add to it to make it different every time you cook it. By only changing up what different noodles are paired with, you can create an entirely new dish without taking hours in the kitchen.
Here are some great ways to prepare pasta, without needing more prep time than the classic noodle-and-sauce combination that kids can't get enough of.
Photo by Gabriel Li via Flickr -
Sausage meatball rigatoni
You can have this entire dish made — including homemade meatballs — in under 45 minutes. This practically gourmet pasta dish will have the kids begging for more, and can be made in a big enough batch to be frozen and served later when you're in a pinch.
Get the recipe here -
Pasta fazool
Packed with beans, pasta and veggies, this is a delicious, fully loaded concoction that falls somewhere between a spoonable soup and a forkable pasta dish. Perfect for that night where you're not sure which you feel like eating.
Get the recipe here -
Bacon and tomato pasta
This creamy, cheesy pasta dish is complemented with bacon and tomato to create a practically divine combination. It tastes just as good as it sounds and might become the only pasta recipe you'll ever want to eat, if you're not careful.
Get the recipe here
Photo by toyohara via Flickr -
Orecchiette with rustic tomato sauce and chickpeas
Orecchiette is a pasta that's often forgotten, mostly due to its unusual shape. The great thing about it is that there's a crevice in the middle, perfect for trapping the ingredients from the sauce. This dish is high in fibre with a little kick that everyone will love.
Get the recipe here -
Clean-out-the-cupboard mac and cheese
You've got to love a recipe that gets rid of bits of cheese and all your almost-finished packages of pasta. It's kind of the kid-friendly version of ratatouille. To save time, simply skip the baking step.
Get the recipe here -
Crab-stuffed pasta shells
Easier than lasagna, more fun than manicotti, pasta shells are a perfect container for the deliciously crabby stuffing. Everything tastes better in a shell, for some reason, and the kids will love playing sous-chef for this creation.
Get the recipe here
Photo by ginnerobot via Flickr -
Creamy stovetop chicken pasta
Here's an easy weeknight pasta to prepare for growing kids with simple tastes. You could even use diced leftover ham instead of chicken, if you'd prefer. The best part? It's all made on the stovetop.
Get the recipe here -
More supper recipes
More Slideshows
Day in the life of Gwyneth Paltrow
RECALL: Children's and Infants' Little Remedies for Fevers
Body image survival guide for parents
Prenatal anxiety: Tips and treatment 
Healthy Family Challenge