Some say using a blender rather than a food processor results in a smoother puree. When combining pesto with pasta, Ligurians mix a small ladle of the cooking water into the pesto just before adding the noodles; this dilutes the concentrated sauce and helps it adhere to the pasta.

Give leftover chicken a delicious encore with this colorful pasta dish. It's good with warm garlic bread and a ruffly green salad in a tart vinaigrette.

This dish of fresh herbs is new southern cooking at its best; dishes such as this one originated in southern Italy, but are at home in today's South, where kitchen gardens are enjoying a popular revival. Many herbs and greens winter well in the Deep South --parsley, sage, oregano, thyme, ..

Freshly roasted peppers impart a smoky taste to this hearty pasta. If you like, you can use jarred peppers, thinly sliced, instead of making your own, and skip step one.

The combination of lemon zest, raisins, and pine nuts was inspired by condiments popular in Southern Italian cooking. Try the lemon relish on chicken or pork, or even as a topping for steamed broccoli.

Made with ground turkey this colorful dish is delicious, easy to make, and certain to please the whole family.

To make a simplified version of stuffed pork chops, alternate browned chops with spoonfuls of pasta - vegetable dressing in a casserole, then bake.