Healthy, easy pasta-based recipes for students

After you move out and leave for college, you begin to appreciate all the things your parents did for you that you now have to do for yourself — especially cooking. We know you're probably kicking yourself for not spending more time with mom in the kitchen. Never fear, if you can boil water, you make all three of these delicious noodle-based dishes.

Easy Pasta (serves two)

Ingredients:

8 oz spaghetti noodles

3 tablespoons olive oil

½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish

2 cups baby spinach, torn or chopped

Garlic powder to taste

Black pepper to taste

Crushed red peppers to taste

½ cup tomatoes, chopped and separated

Directions:

1. Boil water and cook spaghetti according to package instructions.

2. Drain spaghetti and return to the pot. Add olive oil, Parmesan, spinach, garlic powder, black pepper and crushed red peppers. Mix well.

3. Separate pasta into two bowls. Top each bowl of pasta with half of the tomatoes. Garnish with the extra Parmesan and more crushed red peppers.

Fancy Ramen (serves one)

Ingredients:

1 package of ramen noodles, any flavor

¼ cup chopped tofu

1-cup baby spinach, torn or chopped

Cayenne powder, to taste

¼ cup tomatoes, chopped

Crushed red peppers, to taste

Directions:

1. Boil 2 cups of water. Put in the noodles, contents of the flavor packet, tofu and a dash or two of cayenne. Cook for however long the package instructions say.

2. Turn off the heat and add spinach. Stir for about a minute so that the warm ramen cooks the spinach. Pour the ramen into a bowl. Top with tomatoes and crushed red peppers. Serve and enjoy.

Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes and Artichokes (serves four)

This recipe features some pricier ingredients, so it's best to save for a special occasion, like when Mom and Dad come to visit. Make this for your parents and they'll be happily convinced that you're not living off of Taco Bell and the soft serve ice cream in the dining hall

Ingredients:

1 pound Farfalle Pasta (They look like bowties.)

2 6.5 oz jars marinated sundried tomatoes

2 14.5 oz cans artichokes in water

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon crushed red peppers

Directions:

1. Boil water and cook pasta according to package instructions. Strain noodles and return to pot.

2. Pour in marinated sundried tomatoes (the oil and seasonings too). Drain water from artichokes and pour those in too. Mix well. Add in the Parmesan, Italian seasoning and crushed red peppers. Mix well again. Serve and enjoy. This dish is great hot or cold.

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