Hi Reader,

There are few things in life as reliable as pasta—and believe me, I’ve tested the theory.
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When I was younger (and delusional), I thought “weeknight dinner” meant something quick and light, like a salad or a responsible grain bowl. Then I met Wednesday. You know her—tired, cranky, wearing yesterday’s socks and whispering, “Feed me carbs or I’ll end you.”​
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Back in the day, my mother could turn a pound of pasta and a can of tomatoes into an act of grace. The whole apartment would fill with the smell of garlic and oil, and by the time dinner hit the table, you could almost forget that the world outside was doing its best impression of chaos.
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Now, when midweek sneaks up on me and The One asks, “What’s for dinner?” I don’t even flinch. Pasta. Always pasta. Because it forgives, it comforts, and it’s never once looked at me and said, “Shouldn’t we be eating quinoa instead?”
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So here’s to the humble noodle—our midweek savior, our edible exhale.

My Golden Rules for Pasta Night

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• Salt like you mean it. The water should taste like the Atlantic. (Trust me, I’ve compared.)
• Reserve that pasta water. It’s liquid gold, the difference between “meh” and “magnificent.”
• Don’t fear the finish. Toss pasta in the sauce for the final minute of cooking—it’s how flavor becomes family.
• Layer, don’t drown. Sauce should hug the noodles, not smother them like an overzealous aunt.
• Always make too much. Leftovers are tomorrow’s reward for surviving Wednesday.

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WHAT'S INSIDE...

• ​Spaghetti Carbonara​
• ​Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese Sauce​
• ​Pasta Al Limone (Creamy Lemon Pasta With Parmesan)​
• ​Spaghetti With Anchovy & Lemon​
• ​Jamie Oliver's Sausage Pappardelle​

​Spaghetti Carbonara​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.92 from 25 votes

Spaghetti carbonara, a pasta and sauce rich with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and guanciale, pancetta, or bacon, is a quick and easy dinner that takes just 25 minutes from stove to table.

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​Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese Sauce​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 from 301 votes

Marcella Hazan's Bolognese sauce recipe is as authentic as can be. Simple, everyday ingredients—beef, onions, carrot, celery, milk, wine, and cheese—come together in a pot, simmering for hours, what can only be described as heaven on a plate.

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​Pasta Al Limone (Creamy Lemon Pasta With Parmesan)​

Bright, creamy, and done in 20 minutes, this Pasta al Limone is pure weeknight magic. With butter, cream, lemon, and Parmigiano-Reggiano, it’s a zesty, cheesy, no-fuss pasta that tastes way fancier than it is.

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​Spaghetti With Anchovy & Lemon​

This is one of those recipes that is so much more than the sum of its parts, and once tried you’ll keep coming back to it. In Italy, a simple pasta dish like this would be served with a sprinkling of seasoned fried breadcrumbs (see FAQ above), but some bread on the side works just as well.

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​Jamie Oliver's Sausage Pappardelle​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.91 from 11 votes

This sausage pappardelle is made in just one-pan with fresh pasta, sausage, and a luxurious wine-infused tomato sauce, and it comes together in under 30 minutes. It's an easy weeknight dinner that feels worthy of a special occasion.

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