Adding pasta to a soup adds an extra texture and ‘bite'. Look out for packets of
special soup pasta shapes, which are small and cook in almost no time, or use
fine vermicelli, broken into pieces The classic Italian pasta soup is Minestrone,
which is packet with  vegetables and beans and is ideal as a substantial lunch or
supper dish, sewed with fresh crusty bread. Brown Lentil & Pasta Soup, 
Italian Chicken Soup, Fish Soup with Anellini and Genoese Vegetable Soup are
also full of protein and very, satisfying. Blending pesto sauce into a soup makes itrich and delicious, or use it as 3 topping, French-style, in Vegetable & Bean Soup.




Pasta salads are just fabulous, and you can really make the most of all the
creative shapes that are available. As the name implies, ear—shaped pasta goes
into Orecchietti Salad with Pears & Blue Cheese, a gorgeous blend of flavors and
textures. Pasta Salad with nuts & Gorgonzola uses farfalle , little bow shapes that
go particularly well in salads, and fusilli tricolore - pasta spirals in plain, spinach ,
and tomato flavors to represent the  colors of the Italian flag - goes into pasta a
twist on the classic French salad which looks beautiful and would make a stunning

centerpiece for an alfresco summer lunch It tastes quite wonderful, too!