Meyer Lemon Pizza fresh whole wheat pizza dough olive oil 4 cloves garlic minced 6 oz fresh spinach salt & pepper pinch of nutmeg 1 Tab. mascarpone cheese 1 Tab. freshly grated Parmesan 4-5 slices cooked bacon chopped 6 oz soft goat cheese 1 Meyer lemon sliced thin- seeds removed Shape pizza dough on pan. To Make creamy spinach base-heat 1 or 2 Tab olive oil over med low heat-add garlic cook for 1 min-add spinach -toss to coat as it wilts- after spinach is wilted (about 3-5 min) stir in mascarpone and Parmesan until creamy-add nutmeg and salt/pepper- stir well then remove from heat and set aside. Brush pizza dough with 1 Tab. olive oil then distribute spinach mix over top, then bacon pieces, then crumble goat cheese all over pizza then layer thin slices of lemon over pizza and grate a fresh sprinkling of Parmesan over top. Place in preheated 375 degree oven for 25-30 minutes till crust and cheese are golden If you could just see the photo of this!!

I am definitely copying and pasting many of these recipes and ideas! I love pasta and really get tired of eating meat all the time. I have a few, but am loving having more meatless pasta dishes to try! Broccoli Linguini 1 lb linguini 3 oz olive oil 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 lg bunch broccoli, finely chopped including 1-2" of stems 3/4 c chopped walnuts 1/2c pitted black olives, sliced 3 oz parmesan or romano cheese, grated Salt to taste Pepper, freshly ground Cook linguini according to package directions until "al dente", drain. Heat olive oil in large skillet and sauté garlic until golden. Add broccoli, walnuts and olives, cook and stir over medium heat until very hot. Season to taste with salt and pepper Pour over hot linguini, sprinkle parmesan over top and serve immediately (From Daytons Marketplace) This is something I came up with by trying to duplicate a pasta dish I used to love at TGI Fridays back in the 90's when their food was good! LOL [](http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=10&imgid=169963870) Mediterranean Pasta Marinara: 3T olive oil 1/4 c chopped onion 3 cloves fresh chopped garlic ½ tsp salt ½ tsp sugar ¼ tsp pepper 1 T dried basil 1 28\-oz can tomato puree 1/4 c dry red wine Saute onions and garlic in olive oil until onions are translucent. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. 1lb cavatappi, cooked 1 oz olive oil 8 oz sliced mushrooms 1 tomato cut in large dice ½ each red and green pepper cut in large dice 12 oz jar marinated artichoke hearts, quartered ½ c sliced black olives 1 tsp dried basil Pinch salt & pepper 2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped fine 4 oz mozzarella, shredded 1/3 c grated parmesan Saute mushrooms in oil, add remaining ingredients (except cheeses) and bring to simmer. Place hot cooked pasta in large serving dish, sprinkle with mozzarella, pour hot sauce over all and sprinkle with parmesan. Serve. And this one is different, but quite good, too! Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Swiss Chard and Pecorino Cheese Courtesy Giada DeLaurentis 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 onions, thinly sliced 2 bunches Swiss chard, trimmed and chopped (about 14 cups) 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices 1/4 cup dry white wine 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes Salt and pepper 8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons freshly grated Pecorino cheese 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts Heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the chard and saute until it wilts, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes with their juices, wine, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer until the tomatoes begin to break down and the chard is very tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Season the chard mixture, to taste, with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring frequently, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the spaghetti. Add the spaghetti to the chard mixture and toss to combine. Transfer the pasta to serving bowls. Sprinkle the olives, cheese, and pine nuts and serve. Linda

The nice thing about all theses recipes is that they can be combined by using what you have on hand...and what you like. I'm making one this morning for the weekend. I always have olives, pulled some pecans out of the freezer from the holidays that i will toast and lightly chop. Roast a red pepper on the gas burner. My basil bed is doing well but not enough for a pesto so i'll pinch off a dozen tops but the cilantro is bolting so i'll add that at the end with a squeeze of lime. Tomatoes are a month away but i have a dozen early sungolds (the size of marbles)...I'll cut in half and toss on top fresh. i have a bit of fetta left i need to use. A dozen sugar snap peas sliced in half. Not enough for a side dish. I made succotash wed and have an ear of corn left and half a zucchini and squash i'll use up. (my local Stop-n-Shop grocery has a local farm stand set up inside) A wooden cart with an umbrella, haha. I usually prefer simplicity and just a few ingredients but this time of year i have a little bit of everything...reminds me of my MIL's saturday soup my husband grew up on...all the bits of the weeks meals tossed in a soup pot with homemade stock from the freezer, maybe some rice or pasta. Not really left-overs using fresh, but certainly a 'garden party' pasta. Still a light sauce. I'm going to make a full lb so it will be a side dish tonight with cod cakes, a cold salad for tomorrows lunch, (DH will have some for breakfast, lol). Sunday night's return from the mountains i'll put the leftovers in a casarole, top with extra cheese, 'yogurt milk', panko and any grill leftovers, (lamb sausage!) and make an adult mac-n-cheese. (i have some rich stinky fancy munster i need to use up). A completely different meal when baked and toasted. sallyparis-love your blog. My husband caught me grating a few tomatoes last season, "now what are you doing!?", haha. Works great in a hurry but needs a big bowl. Love warm pasta tossed in all that yummy juice when tomatoes are so sweet and abundant. tricia-haha, the harried greek housewife. Now i know what to call it! Gwlolo- No need to 'cook' the sauce, but a few ingredients do 'brighten' flavors with a few minutes in a large wide saucepan, just a few minutes as the pasta is finishing. Add the warm pasta to the saucepan and toss. A caprese is nice just on top fresh when serving along with toasted nuts if using. If you have an abundance of fresh basil, some is nice tossed in the warm pasta but save most for the top garnish. Arugula is delightful as well.

Wow - what great pasta salad recipes! I've copied all of them. Here's one from an old recipe swap site that no longer exists, that's supposed to be the kind of pasta salad people buy in delicatessens: The Store Cold Ziti Salad with Tomato and Peppers-:Bert Green Serving Size : 8 1-1/2 tablespoons Salt 1 pound Ziti pasta 1/4 cup milk 1 red onion 2 tomatoes 6 sweet pickles 2 small green peppers -- seeded 1 large shallot 1/2 cup sour cream 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise 2 packets George Washington brown bouillon powder Freshly ground pepper 1 teaspoon wine vinegar 1 tablespoon pickle juice 1/4 cup fresh dill -- roughly chopped Salt and pepper -- to taste Bring a 4-qt saucepan of water to a boil. Add 1 Tbl salt, then add the Ziti. Boil to al dente. Drain. Rinse in cold water. Drain again. Place the cooked Ziti in a bowl. Add enough milk (about 1/4 cup) to thoroughly moisten the Ziti and toss. Chop the onion, tomatoes, pickles, and peppers into 1/4-inch cubes. Reserve a large tablespoon of each for garnish. Mince the shallot. Beat the sour cream and mayonnaise together with a whisk until creamy, and add the bouillon, 1/2 Tbl salt, and the pepper. (Thin with milk if necessary). Pour over the Ziti. Add the shallots, tomatoes, pickles, green peppers, vinegar, and pickle juice. Mix well. Garnish with the reserved vegetables. Cut fresh dill over all. Serve chilled. Posted at GailÂs Recipe Swap (now dismantled by epicurious)