With five cheeses, chilies and sausage, this baked rigatoni can be ready in an hour.Danielle Matar/The Globe and Mail
Baked pasta is my idea of real comfort food. It's easy to cook and can be prepared well ahead of time, making it a go-to dish for families (especially since it also freezes well). Served with a good salad, it becomes soul-satisfying.
Here are some twists on mac-and-cheese, one enhanced with peas and sausage and another with a fiery red vegetarian sauce.
Rigatoni with ricotta and sausage
A five-cheese extravaganza with sausage and some chilies to balance the cheesy richness. Serve a small portion as an appetizer before a light main course, or make it the centrepiece of dinner.
Baked penne with mixed vegetables
This recipe is a good basis for adding other vegetables that you like: broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, kale or anything else in your vegetable drawer. If you like smoky flavours, smoked provolone cheese lends a more complex taste than provolone.
Lucy Waverman