Pasta e Verdura: 140 Vegetable Sauces for Spaghetti, Fusilli, Rigatoni, and All Other Noodles

Pasta e Verdura provides endless ideas for cooks who love pasta, but prefer greens to meats. Yet this is not a health-food book, nor is it a vegetarian's take on Italian cuisine. Rather, Jack Bishop made the astute observation somewhere along the line that Italians, as a consequence of tradition, and of being Italian, eat a lot of different pasta dishes that have absolutely nothing to do with high levels of meat, fat, or dairy. Healthy dishes, in other words. And impossibly delicious.

So, starting at the beginning of the alphabet, Bishop gives the reader Braised Artichokes with Tomatoes and Thyme served over linguine--while also explaining how to shop for the best artichokes, how to store them, and how to prep them for cooking. This format is followed for all 27 individual vegetable entries. Arugula is next, right on through to zucchini (Sautéed Zucchini with Lemon, Pine Nuts, and Basil served over fettuccine).

Anyone who opines that eating well and living within the parameters of a sensible diet are impossible bedfellows needs this book. The results will be delicious and healthy. --Schuyler Ingle