Introduction

In our increasingly busy lives, there seems to be less and less time to cook—yet more and more people are realizing the importance of eating at home, both as a way to strengthen family bonds and as a healthier, more economical alternative to eating out. This creates a yearning to have quality meals prepared at home. The Mediterranean diet of low-fat carbohydrates such as pasta and lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, along with an active lifestyle, has been proven to promote a long and healthy life. Fads may come and go, but the appeal of pasta has endured even the Atkins diet craze. Taking the time to prepare a home-cooked meal may seem like a luxury, but in fact it doesn’t need to take longer than going out or even getting take-out. Many of the pasta sauces I prepare at home do not take much longer than boiling the water and cooking the pasta.