Ward Street Bistro

Pasta with Roasted Radicchio

I love the warm and cozy flavors of Fall, which I think come together perfectly in this pasta with roasted radicchio, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives. To complete the meal, I serve it with classic baked acorn squash.  The flavors are a study in contrasts: the slightly bitter radicchio, the sweet tomatoes and acorn squash, the salty olives. To top it off, the pasta is garnished with Parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts, and some fresh basil.

You can go directly to the printable recipe or I'll show you how to make it, step-by-step...

Pasta with Cauliflower

This is a favorite, comforting pasta dish--every bite of it takes me back to Italy. And though I'm hesitant to emphasize this, it's quite healthy, too. The secret is in finely chopped cauliflower, tomato, and a touch of saffron. Top it all with homemade toasted breadcrumbs for the completely authentic experience.

You can go directly to the printable recipe, or I'll show you how to make it step-by-step...

Pasta 101

Why talk about how to cook pasta? Well, I think the art of cooking pasta is somewhat overlooked. Much effort goes into the sauce; maybe not so much on the foundation of the dish--the pasta itself. Not that a  whole lot of effort is required: just the right technique.

So I think it's worth spending a few moments to consider the elements of successful pasta-cooking:  water, heat, salt, motion, and time (among a few other things)...