Cookthink

You can buy uncooked lobster tails at the market and just remove the meat from the shell. Or, if you are buying a whole lobster, I've found it easier to steam or boil it for 1 minute exactly, drain and then remove the meat. Read more about this recipe at Steamy Kitchen.

Cappellini In Fresh Tomato Cream Sauce

If this dish sits after the sauce is added, it’ll clump up a bit. It’ll still be tasty, but the noodles will stick together. It’s best if you time it so you can serve it immediately. Read more about this recipe at VeganYumYum.

Pistachio-Arugula Pesto With Penne And Sauteed Broccolini

This pesto tastes like spring; it’s fresh, green, bright, and crisp with a hint of sweetness. The peppery taste of the arugula is nicely set off by the creamy, sweet pistachios. Read more about this recipe at VeganYumYum.

Bucatini With Sardines, Fennel And Tomatoes

This pasta is based on the Sicilian Pasta con le Sarde. Both canned and fresh sardines work here. (We used both.) Bucatini is the classic noodle for this dish, but spaghetti and fettucine are good substitutes.

Gnocchi With Sage Butter

Once you have mastered the technique, be adventurous and substitute sweet potatoes for the russets or vary the herbs and spices. To make gnocchi light and fluffy, use as little flour as possible, just so they hold together. Read more about this recipe in Jesse Ziff Cool's Simply Organic cookbook.

Spaghetti With Clams, Chardonnay, Lime and Cilantro

One helping of this fresh, flavorful dish and you won't go back to clam sauce made with canned clams and dried herbs. Read more about this recipe on the Washington Post.

Whole Wheat Fusilli With Watercress, Red Peppers, Pine Nuts And Garlic

You might not often find watercress in Italian pastas, but its peppery bite is balanced here by sweet peppers, pungent garlic and toasted pine nuts. Toss in a little basil at the end if you have some on hand.

Egg Noodles With Peas And Parmesan

In the world of pasta sauces, it's hard to think of an easier and more universally appealing sauce than butter. Peas and parmesan are a great combination of sweet and salty.

Egg Noodles With Mushrooms And Shallots

In this simple pasta dish, an irresistible combination of mushrooms, white wine and fresh thyme leaves makes a richly flavored sauce for silky egg noodles.

Ziti With Grilled Vegetables

A quick and fresh summer pasta, this dish is also a great way to use up leftover grilled summer squash or other vegetables. This recipe is part of Andrew Schloss's Sunday Dinners.

Bow-Tie Pasta With Sausage And Sauerkraut

A great use of leftover beer-braised sausages and sauerkraut, this pasta includes extra cabbage for a fresher green touch. This recipe is part of Andrew Schloss's Sunday Dinners.

Simple Spaghetti And Meatballs

This is Claire's grandmother's classic spaghetti and meatballs recipe. She always made twice the meatballs she needed, because inevitably a few would get swiped from the pot before dinner. If you have any meatballs left, make a meatball sub the next day.