Independent

In true Italian style, this pasta is sparsely sauced. This delicious tossed pasta comes together in minutes. Serve with a green salad and a tumbler of wine.

A delicious and colourful way to get more healthful omega-3 fat in your family’s diet.

Whole wheat couscous has a lovely nutty flavour, accentuated in this fast, healthy side dish by slivered almonds. Dark orange vegetables such as butternut squash are full of beta-carotene.

Whether to feed your monsters on Halloween night before trick or treating, or as a gross-out meal kids of a certain age and sensibility will enjoy year round, this ghastly “brain” will fill the bill.

Some of the classic pizza flavours appear in this yummy pasta dish. If some of your family like spice and some don’t, simply put the hot pepper flakes on the table so everyone can add to their own serving, perhaps accompanied by PC 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, just like they have on the tables of Italian pizza places.

A lemony butter sauce with pancetta and peppery arugula dress up cheese tortellini. Saving a bit of pasta cooking water is always a good idea; it bulks up the sauce but is thicker than water as it has some starch from the cooked pasta in it.

Cheesy pasta is always a hit with kids. Your budding chef can help make this one!

This all-in-one main course is speedy enough to make on a weeknight after work.

Deep-fried chickpea croquettes called falafel are a Middle Eastern specialty and are also a popular street food in Canada’s urban areas. Here we form falafel mixture into patties instead of croquettes and reduce the fat by frying in a nonstick pan.

Fennel has a slight licorice flavour, and is a commonly partnered with fish or seafood. You can use orange or lemon rind as you prefer; any citrus makes a great foil for fish. This recipe is a great way to stretch a can of tuna to feed six, without anyone feeling deprived.