Do you love eating pasta, but you don't think that it makes a healthy meal? Then you're really going to enjoy today's show, as Alexandra Caspero and I, dig into pasta, with a modern, Italian twist and share some easy and nutritious recipes that I’m sure you're going to want to make for your family. Listen in to find out why you really can eat pasta! And yes, you can eat pasta and be gluten free!

Today’s guest, Alex, is a vegetarian, who is based in St Louis. She is a registered dietician and she's the voice behind the beautiful food blog, Delish Knowledge. She's also the author of the new cookbook Fresh Italian Cooking For The New Generation. Listen in to today's show and discover more about healthy eating, the Italian way.

Today, Alex and I talk about:

 

•Two of the recipes from Alex's book - Roasted Vegetable Ziti and Pasta E Fagioli.

•Alex's book- Fresh Italian Cooking for the New Generation.

•Making meat-free meals really enjoyable.

•Alex's meat-free, delicious Mushroom Lasagna.

•The story behind Alex's recipe for her Grandmother's recipe for Pasta E Fagioli.

•Why kids will really enjoy Alex's Pasta E Fagioli.

•The magical properties of pasta water.

•Herbs - they can really take a dish from ho-hum to delish!

•That Italian cooking is meant to be designed as you go, so improvise till your heart's content.

•The difference between whole-wheat pasta and white flour pasta and substituting gluten free pasta if necessary.

•Making your own pasta- great to get your kids involved!

•Alex's favorite recipe in her book – Fresh Corn and Zucchini Gnocchi.

•The different choices that are available for you in Alex's cookbook.

•Alex's favorite foodie- Ina Garten of the Food Network.

•The cookbooks that Alex thinks everybody should have on their bookshelf.

Links:

 

Alex's website: www.delishknowledge.com

 

Liz's website: www.lizshealthytable.com – Go to the blog for recipes and for the free giveaway of Alex's book.

 

Liz's email: [email protected]

 

Resources:

 

Books: Everyday Pasta by Giada De Laurentiis

           The Flavor Bible and The Vegetarian Flavour Bible by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg