This recipe makes two pans of pasta. Serve one tonight, and keep the other in the freezer for up to three months. To freeze, prepare the dish through dividing the pasta between the two pans; let cool completely before covering tightly with plastic wrap and placing in the freezer.

ready in about 40 minutes; serves 10
You might need to buy:
  • whole tomatoes
  • rigatoni
  • heavy cream
  • oregano
  • baby spinach
  • grated Parmesan cheese

Fresh pasta is the best choice for this dish; supermarkets sell 9-ounce containers of fresh pasta in the refrigerator section (see related article for tasting results). When boiling the pasta, undercook it slightly (even shy of al dente) because the pasta cooks an additional minute or two in the sauce. Note that Fettuccine Alfredo must be served immediately; it does not hold or reheat well.

ready in about 30 minutes; serves 5
You might need to buy:
  • fresh fettuccine
ready in about 40 minutes; serves 7
You might need to buy:
  • mustard
  • seasoned salt
  • pepper
  • Velveeta
  • cheddar cheese
  • evaporated milk
  • eggs
  • elbow macaroni