Basically Delicious

• Penne pasta should be cooked al dente -- or firm to the bite -- to avoid becoming gummy. Lightly salt your cooking water for additional flavor. For a classically delicious dish, prepare your favorite tomato sauce. Once heated through, combine the cooked pasta with the red sauce and add chunks of fresh mozzarella, lightly tossing so that the cheese starts to melt. Add finely chopped fresh basil, and season with salt and pepper. The pasta also pairs well with a vodka sauce instead of the classic tomato sauce. Add cubes of salty pancetta to the penne, mozzarella and sauce for a tasty variation.

Pasta Primavera

• To create an elegant primavera dish, saute finely chopped garlic, sliced onions, mushrooms and zucchini in olive oil. Cook until the vegetables are heated through. Add pesto sauce and cook until the sauce becomes fragrant, about two minutes. Turn off the heat and add fresh mozzarella and cooked penne. Toss to combine the ingredients, and season with salt and pepper. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Penne also pairs well with baby peas and fresh green asparagus in a cream sauce. Saute vegetables in olive oil until just heated through. Add heavy cream and chopped fresh sage and simmer for two minutes. Add mozzarella cheese, season with salt and pepper, and serve over cooked penne.

Baked Penne

• For a rustic Italian dish, combine sausage with penne, sauce and cheese, and bake until bubbly. Saute sausage with garlic until the meat is browned. Add tomato paste, sugar, seasonings such as ground fennel and oregano, salt and pepper, and water. Simmer until the sauce has thickened, about 30 minutes. Combine cooked penne with the sauce in a baking dish. Add dollops of ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella and a sprinkling of Parmesan. Bake the pasta uncovered in a preheated oven for 45 minutes until the top is golden brown.

Chicken Pasta

• Penne combines deliciously with roasted chicken and radicchio for an elegant yet hearty dish. Saute chopped radicchio in olive oil until wilted, about three minutes. Add roasted chicken and cook until the meat is heated through. To create a simple tangy sauce, add additional olive oil and balsamic vinegar to the pan, and cook for a minute until the sauce thickens slightly. Toss in cooked penne and mix well to combine. Serve the pasta topped with shredded mozzarella cheese and a sprinkling of chopped walnuts.