Pastas, Noodles & Risotto
Judy’s Lasagna
For a quicker preparation, you can use fresh or “no boil” lasagna noodles that don’t need precooking; replace the items added to the meat sauce in step 2 with store-bought marinara; and instead of the mozzarella and Parmesan, buy shredded Italian-blend cheese (mozzarella, Parmesan, provolone, Romano, fontina, and Asiago)
Linguine with Herb Broth and Clams
I make this often when I’m at our summerhouse in Lake Placid, where I’m able to get fresh small Maine clams. It’s a nice dinner to serve a crowd because you can do all the prep ahead of time and cook the clams and pasta at the last minute. Also your guests can eat it with their plates on their laps without a problem.
Linguine with Spicy Chorizo and Goat Cheese
I make this using Spanish chorizo, which is a hard, cooked sausage that can be sliced. Mexican chorizo is soft and needs to be cooked. If you can’t find Spanish chorizo, use Mexican chorizo or spicy Italian pork sausage in its place. Crumble the sausage instead of slicing it, and be sure to cook it until it’s done.
Orzo with Grilled Shrimp, Summer Vegetables, and Pesto Vinaigrette
This easy pasta is light and refreshing. Serve this cold or at room temperature—perfect for a picnic or barbecue. Photo to the left by Mitchell Feinberg.
Orzo with Grilled Zucchini and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Try this easy pasta dish alongside gilled lamb or chicken. It’s also great for a quick vegetarian lunch or for picnics.
Pasta with Carbonara Sauce
This sauce will be enough for 8 ounces of warm, freshly cooked pasta; always reserve a bit of the cooking water to toss with the sauce and hot pasta.
Pasta with Wild Mushroom Sauce
This sauce is good with conchiglie, gemelli, farfalle, or orechiette and is enough for 8 ounces of pasta. Always reserve a bit of the pasta cooking water to toss with the sauce and hot pasta.
Rigatoni with Sausage, Cannellini Bean, and Swiss Chard
Because it’s so big and toothsome, rigatoni seems to demand a hearty, wintry sauce like this one. It’s just the kind of comforting one-dish meal you want on a cold night.