More Than Pasta is truly pasta made easy. And I know what you’re thinking: How could pasta possibly get any easier? But we mean easy on the stomach, digestible, and better yet, almost entirely guilt-free.

Recently opened on Ossington's east side, More Than Pasta crafts kosher, gluten-free products that are rich in soy and vegetable protein. What's left when you abandon the traditional flour and egg recipe? Five grams of protein for every 60 gram serving, and far fewer carbs than the other guy.

Executive chef Roderick Strike explains the simple mission: to give pasta-loving diabetics, vegans, and plain ol’ health nuts a new alternative. He suggests that I try a best-seller: basic linguine with a cilantro-pesto sauce. A meal for two is just $10.

Naturally, the pasta doesn’t taste like regular pasta. The dense noodles and grainy texture make it feel heartier; a little goes a long way. I was totally satisfied after just one serving. And the sauce? Just as perfect as the linguine it was poured on. 

Finally, a fast, affordable meal that didn’t weigh on my conscience, or too badly on the scale the next day—proving that More Than Pasta is actually, in a way, less. — Carli Stephens-Rothman

More Than Pasta, 121 Ossington Ave., Toronto, www.hollywood-foods.com

In an age of food porn, who knew black and white graphics could be so enticing?

Caz Hildebrand’s bold designs in The Geometry of Pasta are the perfect visual complement to chef Jacob Kenedy’s authentic recipes.

From corzetti to gomiti to rigatoni and ziti, this stunning book reveals everything you need to know about the science, history and philosophy of cooking pasta.

A saucy read for all your carb queens.

$17.52 at Amazon.ca

There are few meals more wholesome than pasta fagioli – macaroni and beans. It’s comfort in a bowl, or even better, in a cast iron saucepan, as it comes at Campagnolo.

In keeping with the meat-focused menu at this new Dundas West restaurant, Campagnolo’s version ($16) is flavoured with smoked hock and topped with giant croutons.

Another hearty dish is the wild boar ragu, tripe, meatballs and spareribs on polenta ($21), and don’t skip on the warm olives and fried artichokes.

If our turkey feast fails, it’s pasta fazool tonight.

Happy Holidays.

Campagnolo, 832 Dundas St. W., Toronto, 416-364-4785, www.campagnolotoronto.com

Sure your kids have tried to convince you that candy is the fifth food group.

But in order to stave off a Hallowe'en dinner of Smarties and Twizzlers (with the attendant sugar crash two hours later) we suggest filling the kids up with these ghost-shaped stuffed pastas called sacchetti, tossed with lemon zest, olive oil, parmesan and fried capers.

Boo!

In Vancouver at Bosa Foods and Italian grocery stores nationwide.

If you own a pasta maker, chances are it’s gathering dust alongside the ice cream maker, bread maker and onion slicer.

Leave it to the team of pasta rollers at Bologna Pastificio to prepare the most delicious homemade pasta for you.

From the freshest fusilli to the tenderest of tagliolini ($15 for 8 people), nothing compares to the taste of their fresh noodles.

Don’t miss out on the homemade sauces and the spinach lasagna is to die for. If you ask nicely, they’ll even prepare it in your own serving dish.

Now that’s using your noodle.

Bologna Pastificio, 2895 Dufferin St., Toronto, 416-782-7161.