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7 Delish Pasta Recipes to Add to the Dinner Rotation

Imagine the pasta-bilities! (Sorry, we couldn’t help it.) Technically we know there are people out there who don’t like pasta, but it’s hard for us to imagine. It’s the perfect vehicle for everything, from butter and Parmesan to slow-simmered sauces that make your house smell heavenly. If your family is pro-pasta, this is the newsletter for you. We’ve rounded up seven of our favourite noodle recipes for you to try out this winter.

Tap each title for the full recipe.

Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Chard
Spicy Pasta Alla Norma
Pasta with Broccoli Rabe and Chorizo Bread Crumbs
Charred Lemon-Herb Pesto 
Sesame Noodles with Maple-Harissa Tofu
Lemony Pasta Primavera
Gochujang Chicken Noodle Bake

🍝 TRY SOMETHING NEW! If there are unfamiliar ingredients in these recipes, don’t just assume your kids won’t be into them. It’s worth a shot! Plus, the beauty of cooking at home means you can tailor-make anything for your household. Substitute or omit wherever you need to, or make a less spicy, less bold version for the kiddos if necessary.

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WEEK TWO: Tell Us What You Think for a Chance to Win!

We want to know what’s on the minds of our readers so we can create content that truly makes a difference. That’s why we want to hear from you. For the second week in a row, we’re asking our readers to give us the goods.

If you’d like to be entered in a draw to win a $75 Amazon gift card, hit “I can help!” on the poll below and fill out the box on the second page. Tell us what matters to you, what you want to know more about, what worries you…you name it, we want to hear it. We’ll use your responses to create our editorial strategy for 2025 and beyond.

*This contest will run in our newsletter over the next three weeks. We’ll draw a name on November 27 and notify the winner by email. Thank you in advance for your participation!

Should I Get My Kid a Smartwatch?

If you stand back and observe any schoolyard at the close of day, you’ll see tons of kids pulling an Inspector Gadget and talking or listening to their watches. If you didn’t know any better, you might wonder if you’ve happened upon a contingent of underaged spies. But no. Chances are, they’re just talking to their parents. This is the smartwatch boom on full display.

In theory, using a smartwatch as a stopgap to a phone isn’t a bad idea. But in practice, there are some issues to consider: 

1) Most smartwatches have two-way communication, GPS geolocation and more. Constant tracking and over-supervision can hamper independence, critical thinking skills, social development and more.

2) Knowing their parents are easily reached can lead to a false sense of security for kids, believing technology is a safety net when they get into a tough situation.

3) Smartwatches can be disruptive in the classroom for kids and in the workplace for parents.

4) They are mini screens, so if they games or apps, they can be distracting for kids when they’re trying to sleep (like any other device!). 

But these concerns don’t mean you should write smartwatches off altogether, either. You may just need some guardrails around use. Interested to learn more? Tap the button and get the whole story.