We tease Melissa about her New York cuisine.  She, in turn, teases us about Idaho’s steak and potatoes culture.  That’s okay.  I’ve lived in the South and the Upper Midwest and miss the favorite foods of those regions. 

Melissa was reminiscing about the foods she grew up with.  “We ate a lot of spaghetti.”  (In the West, we ate a lot of potatoes.)  Soon she was naming all the ways that you can eat spaghetti from salad to carbonara.  That led to this issue: seven things you can make with spaghetti.  Of course, there are more but we think you’ll enjoy these seven.  Maybe it will inspire you to discover even more things to do with spaghetti. 

We hope that you enjoy this issue . . . and your spaghetti. 

 Dennis Weaver

Would you like to make your own sauces?

The Sauce Master/Victorio Strainer makes it easy.  It turns vegetables and fruits into sauces or purees.  Make jams, salsa, pie fillings, and more.  Perfect for canning.

Catch this introductory offer and get FREE shipping!* >>

*Standard shipping only, 48 U.S. contiguous states, this item only. 

#1 Spaghetti made with Fresh Tomatoes

Plain spaghetti doesn’t have to be plain.  A good homemade sauce can elevate it a great deal.  Some vegetables and cheese can make it almost regal.  So here is our better than plain spaghetti: 

Read on for a spaghetti made with homemade sauce made with vegetables and cheese >>

#2 Spaghetti Pie

We’ve long been a fan of spaghetti pie.  Cooked spaghetti is loaded into a deep dish pie pan.  The filling is made with meat, marinara sauce, and cheeses and then baked—almost a reminder of lasagna but easier. 

#3 Spaghetti Pasta Salad

This is our favorite pasta salad and so good we had to include it again. With chicken and spaghetti or vermicelli, it is substantial enough for a main dish and has a very nice mixture of subtle flavors with a little kick from the ginger.

Read on for the Oriental Chicken Pasta Salad >>

#4 Spaghetti Aglio E Olio

For those of us who don’t speak Italian, this is spaghetti in a garlic and olive oil sauce.  As with other spaghetti dishes, you can be creative.  Often vegetables such as mushrooms, onions, broccoli, tomatoes, or zucchini are added and maybe some sausage or shrimp or chicken pieces.

This is one of Melissa’s favorite pasta dishes. 

Read on to learn how to make Spaghetti Aglio E Olio >>

#5 Spaghetti Carbonara

Carbonara is a traditional Italian pasta sauce containing bacon, ham, or pork and eggs.  There are two versions of carbonara: American and Italian.  The American version includes heavy cream and is much richer. 

Read on for an American version of Spaghetti Carbonara >>

Meet the most versatile colander ever!

It also works for steaming and deep frying.  Boil your spaghetti right in the colander and then lift to the sink.

Learn what you can do with an Over-the-Sink Colander >>

#6 Chicken Primavera

Primavera is an Italian word for “spring style”.  Primavera is made with fresh garden vegetables.  Today’s recipe is made with summer squash and added onion and mushrooms.

Read on for the Chicken Primavera with Summer Squash recipe >>

#7 Spaghetti Bolognese

Bolognese sauce is a meat sauce originating in Bologna, Italy, and used with pasta.   Authentic recipes have little tomato sauce. 

Spaghetti Bolognese is usually a meat served on a bed of spaghetti and then topped with Bolognese sauce.  Of course, the sauce can be tossed with spaghetti for a more traditional spaghetti dish.

Read on for a recipe for Chicken Spaghetti Bolognes >>