Foodie Friday: Spring Pasta Dishes & Cooks' Tools

Pasta lovers, like  "Mr. Shop This" can eat pasta any day of the week. But when it comes to the warmer months of Spring and Summer, it's time to lighten up in the kitchen. As the seasonal veggies appear,  it makes sense to use them in our cooking, any way we can. This recipe round up features fresh flavors with lighter layers. It's all so bright and Springy. Be sure not to miss the organic bunny pasta which is perfect for the upcoming Easter holiday.
 The kiddos will love it.



HERE: 17 Spring Pastas

Creamy Cauliflower Fettuccine Alfredo
 With Shrimp
Gluten & Dairy Free
The perfect pasta for many. It's a twist on the classic, which gets its' creaminess from Cauliflower. A must try for me.
Heather Christo

Creamy Avocado & Gouda Cheese Pasta
Simple, Creamy and Cheesy. With pine nuts for a little crunch and lemon to add zest, this sounds perfect to me.
Half Baked Harvest

Linguine with Green Olive Sauce and Zesty Breadcrumbs
This recipe just bursts with big flavors. The Panko breadcrumbs have me intrigued. My favorite Chicago Italian restaurant, Spiaggia, does an olive spread that is fabulous on bread. I can only imagine it on pasta.
Bon Appétit 

Solid Wood Pasta Cutter
Old School. No fancy machine required. This hand turned solid walnut pasta cutter will turn out the nicest noodles with the flick of your wrist.
Food52

Lasagna Primavera
This dish, as the name describes, is literally "full of vegetables." A lighter lasagna version that highlights seasonal veggies. Get the recipe at
5 Ingredients 15 Minutes

Chilled Chardonnay-Braised Calamari Pasta

Wine and pasta - a delicious duo. Any pasta I have ever made always features wine. And to really appreciate the Chardonnay, this dish is served lightly chilled.

Food And Wine

Pasta Server with Cheese Grater Set
Fun to own or to bring to your next dinner party. Less than $20
Burke Decor

Parsley Pesto Spaghetti with Asparagus and Caramelized Spring Onions

This recipe had me at the word Caramelized. What a beautiful Spring dish! 

Adventures In Cooking

Lemon Pasta With Tomatoes & Basil

Fresh tomatoes beat the canned variety any day. I love how the tomatoes add so much color to this dish.  The creaminess comes from a little bit of heavy cream.

Completely Delicious

Basil Avocado Pasta

Bright and beautiful, this Spring pasta also features bacon and Parmesan. And isn't the presentation fab?

Creme De La Crumb

Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
This is a quick and easy meal. This actually is a rich meal, but it gets lightened up with vibrant lemon zest.
Modern Honey

Carrot Pasta
A colorful and slightly healthier take on gnocchi is so simple to make. Not to mention that it looks gorgeous. 
Pure Wow

Nova Deruta Pasta Serve Bowl
Exclusive to Sur La Table and inspired by Umbria. Serve up a stylish bowl of your favorite recipe.
Sur La Table

Pancetta, Asparagus and Goat Cheese Orecchiette
Said to be the easiest in season meal to make. This is a pasta shape that I have never had, but it's cute.  It's all mixed in a creamy mixture of goat cheese and Parmesan. 
How can this be bad?
Williams Sonoma

Spring Risotto with Asparagus and 
Smoked Salmon
"Creamy spring risotto with asparagus and smoked salmon and sugar snap peas ~ finished with lemon, Parmesan and a sprinkling of fresh herbs, a perfect spring-time rendition."
The Hungry Bluebird

Organic Pasta
Go ahead and play with your pasta. Even if you don't cook with the pasta, the confetti, bunnies, and hearts are fun displayed in glass jars. The colors come from pure vegetable dyes, so no worries there.
Williams Sonoma

Spicy Shrimp Pasta Diavolo
Juicy jumbo shrimp sitting on a bed of your favorite pasta. How yummy! The marinara sauce is slightly sweet to balance the little bit of heat......as it should be.
The Cooking Jar



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Foodie Friday: Spring Pasta Recipes & Cooks Tools

( Via Amazon)

Pasta is a perfect dish all year round, but come Spring you might want to lighten things up with the vegetables of the season. Don't worry, these recipes are still layered with flavor, cheese and cream. Use a lighter hand, and your Summer clothing will thank you for doing so.  I have also included some very nifty cooks tools that any top chef would love. Mangia!

Herbed Fazzoletti with Asparagus and Burrata
If you are like me, you may be wondering what is fazzoletti? Nothing too fancy, fazzoletti is just pasta sheets cut in squares. We can do that, right? I love the deconstructed look of this very modern dish.
Food and Wine

Spaghetti alla Primavera
Could anything look more fresh? An interesting note, this recipe was the 1975 creation of Sirio Maccioni of famed Le Cirque restaurant in New York City.
Saveur

90+ Point Red Wine Trio
What's a pasta dish without a little vino? This trio consists of three 90+ rated wines. I have personally gifted this set with rave reviews.
Wine.com

Baby Pea, Asparagus, Prosciutto & Kale Spaghetti
But wait, the title goes on. Added to this yummy dish is lemon and Macadamia Pangratto. Do click thru to see what else you will find in this springtime sensation.
What Katie Ate

Phillips Pasta Maker
This automated machine takes the hard work out of pasta making. Wouldn't it be fun to own one?
Sur La Table

Angel Hair Pasta with Spring Vegetables
This recipe is layered with the best of Spring veggies. Parmesan cheese and fresh basil replace a heavy sauce. It just looks healthy.
Williams-Sonoma Blog

Shrimp Scampi & Pasta
{gluten and dairy free}
This recipe had me at scampi. I can just imagine how this dish will sing with flavors this Spring!
Heather Christo

Leaning Tower Of Pasta
Give your pasta an Italian flair even before the water boils. This storage container is smart and stylish.
Uncommon Goods

 Zucchini Lasagna & Soft-Herbed Cheese
Stun your guests with this pretty as a picture Spring lasagna. The mint garnish is a fresh touch.
Fine Dining Lovers

Paccheri and Cheese with Peas and Mint
Isn't this exotic looking? This dish keeps its' stylish shape with a springform pan. Clever!
Bon Appetit

Pasta Server With Cheese Grater and Measurer
A pasta measurer, server, and cheese grater all in one. I think we all need one of these.
Burke Decor

Take 15% Off Code: SPRINGFLING

Fresh Fig Arugula and Pancetta Pasta
I have always loved the combination of sweet and savory. A pretty dinner party pick.
Spoon Fork Bacon

Spring Quinoa Risotto
{Gluten Free}
Quinoa is full of amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals, fibre, antioxidants, and phytonutrients making it lighter but more nutritious than risotto rice. I realize that risotto is not pasta, but it makes a darn delicious substitute.
Hemsley and Hemsley

Black Rice & Gluten-Free Pastas
This set bans gummy textures forever more. Your life is about to change. Read about it at
Provisions at Food52

Spinach and Artichoke Linguine
This easy to create pasta dish gets its creaminess from mascarpone, ricotta, and fresh Parmesan cheese. It would make a chic choice as a first course for company.
How Sweet It Is

Rachael Ray Hard-Anodized 8 Qt. Covered Pasta Pot
I think this pot is genius. There is room for the pasta to be totally submersed in water from the get go. And the built in pouring spout is such a helpful detail. This is also the best price I can find on this perfect pot.
QVC

Spaghetti And Crab
Chosen because this image is just too pretty to pass up. This recipe calls for something called "raw blue swimmer crabs." I wonder if my fishmonger at Whole Foods carries them?
Gourmet Traveller

Pappardelle with Arugula and Prosciutto
With a prep time of only 20 minutes, this is a very sophisticated looking dish. Simple but impressive.
Bon Appetit

Artichoke Ravioli With Tomatoes
This colorful recipe is topped off with a bubbling sauce of cream, fresh plum tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese.
Epicurious

Ravioli Stamps
My mother had something like these. Authentic from Italy, this set makes it easy to seal and cut ravioli in one motion.
Williams-Sonoma

15-Minute Zucchini Pasta w/ Poached Eggs and Quick Heirloom Cherry Tomato Basil Sauce
Forget 30 minute meals. This fresh find can be done in half the time.
Half Baked Harvest

Alessi "Pasta Pot" Pasta Cooking Unit
For the contemporary cook. The set comes with a saucepan, a lid, a spoon, a trivet and cookbook. 
Bloomingdale's

Spaghetti Pan-Fried with Ramps & Mint
This recipe leans on the onion-y flavor of the ramps that is infused into the pasta. The mint adds the brightness of Spring.
The Kitchn

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