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It's hard enough trying to fit everything into your day without that nagging little dinner elf sitting on your shoulder going 'so, what're we cooking tonight? Anything good? Anything at all?' Because we all know that pesky elf isn't going to hang around and do any of the actual planning, let alone the cooking.
You know what they say, when life hands you a dinner elf, make . There's not a weekday dilemma in the world that a bowl of pasta won't solve. Especially when you can make it quickly and easily. Hop to it, elf. These are lovely, light spinach and nutmeg polpette to serve with spaghetti and a quick tomato sauce. Source: Anna Jones
This dish uses guanciale, which is a tasty cured pork jowl available from most delicatessens. Source: Jono Fleming
Resembling something like an Italian paella, fresh mussels are dotted around the pot with pasta, white wine and capers. Source: Jono Fleming
This penne is a Mediterranean breeze to clean up. Source: Cook like an Italian
Bring together this cheat's risotto with fresh pippies cooked in white wine, and cherry tomatoes. Source: Cook like an Italian
According to the Amatrice mayor’s office, Amatriciana sauce is traditionally made with six ingredients: guanciale, white wine, San Marzano tomatoes, pecorino cheese, pepper and chilli. Source: Chris Chen
You'll soon have your head in a big bowl of little ears. Source: Cook like an Italian
Pasta mista with potatoes, pancetta and provola makes the ideal Monday night dinner when possibly the only thing left in the pantry is broken up bits of leftover pasta. Source: Cook like an Italian
Silvia pairs the red lentil pasta with a classic prawn and cherry tomato sauce. Source: Jono Fleming
Probably the most satisfying pasta salad you'll ever encounter. Source: Jono Fleming
The tomatoes are roasted before having the pasta mixed through to bring through the juices and add an exceptional flavour. Source: Cook like an Italian
Adding ricotta to your pesto gives it a creamy texture and a lighter flavour. Source: Cook like an Italian
Zoodles bring the luxurious feel of pasta but with far fewer calories. Source: Smith & Gilmour
Soft mushrooms, sage and parsley mean you won't miss the bacon, much. Source: Mushrooms Australia
Silvia Colloca flexes her Italian for us all to enjoy. Source: SBS Food
In a world of 'big, bold' flavours, puttanesca is an extraverted giant. Source: One-pot puttanesca (Wok Vs Pot)
It might sound daunting, but we're basically talking broccoli pasta with bacon. Source: Byron Keane
'Nduja is a particularly spicy pork sausage from Calabria in Southern Italy. Source: Bonacini's Italy
This vibrant broccoli and sausage rigatoni is a taste of Sicily. Source: This vibrant broccoli and sausage rigatoni is a taste of Sicily. (Bonacini's Italy)
This simple pasta dish is one of the best ways to showcase the unique concentrated flavour that is bottarga, “the gold of the sea”. Source: Sharyn Cairns
If you've been busy at work and really want something comforting and healthy to eat, this is it. Source: Bloomsbury Publishing
This cheat's version of a lasagne is a great way of turning a weekend favourite into an easy weeknight meal. Source: Bondi Harvest
This is a lovely pasta dish to make if you feel like having a non-meat meal with clean, zingy flavours. Omit the anchovies to make it vegetarian. Source: China Squirrel
Way to make the work day fade away! Source: China Squirrel
