Jonas has been watching what he's eating the past few weeks, so today we decided to try a recipe from ATK's light cookbook.

(If you're not familiar with ATK's "schtick," they take popular recipes and experiment with them over and over in order to determine the very best way to prepare it in terms of time, ease of cooking and -- most importantly -- taste. In general, they do not sacrifice taste in favor of healthiness, so although they deigned to publish a light cookbook, the recipes inside should still taste pretty darned good.)

Spaghetti and meatballs is about as simple as it gets. The most arduous part is probably mixing the meat, spinach and herb mixture by hand, especially if you don't let the meat cool to room temperature first (agh! cold hands! cold hands!). After that, it's a snap: fry 'em up, cook the sauce, and there you go.

Julia modeling her new apron	Jonas rolling meatballs
Jonas looking decidedly mischievous	Yummy homemade meatballs, just out of the frying pan
Homemade tomato sauce	Light(er) spaghetti and meatballs with grated parmesan

Recipe source: America's Test Kitchen's The Best Light Recipe cookbook

It was time to try another of ATK's lasagna recipes. (We had tried the skillet lasagna some time ago.) This one went in the oven, and required a few more steps, but was ultimately a delicious success. We served it with a store-bought crusty herb bread.

Lasagna ingredients ready to go!	Julia plopping down ricotta dollops during lasagna assembly
Applying the finishing touches of mozzarella	Served with herb bread

Recipe source: America's Test Kitchen

After watching ATK one weekend afternoon, we decided to make their version of beef chili with kidney beans. It was a simple recipe, but it was an agonizing 2-hour wait while it was simmering on the stove!! As always, ATK makes a perfect meal.

Beef chili ingredients all lined up and ready to go	Onions, peppers and spices cooking in oil
Julia stirring the pot after the beef has been added. She is reaching because she didn't want to be in the photo.	Beans and tomatoes added
After simmering on the stove for two hours	Topped with cheese and ready to eat! Yum!

Recipe source: America's Test Kitchen

We were looking for something simple but hearty, and skillet lasagna seemed to fit the bill.

Most of the lasagna ingredients, measured and assembled.	Onions and red peppers sautéing.
Browning the meat	Adding the noodles and diced tomatoes
Adding large dollops of ricotta cheese

Recipe source: America's Test Kitchen

Tonight's menu was delicious Spaghetti Puttanesca, both simple and fun. The entire meal can be completed in just about the amount of time it takes to boil a pot of spaghetti. Julia was mildly skeptical of the anchovy component, but to be fair they ultimately melt away into nearly nothing.

The spaghetti cooking on the stove	Heating olive oil
Some of the ingredients, all measured and ready to go: diced tomatoes, red pepper flakes, capers, parsley, black olives, and chopped anchovies	More ingredients: minced garlic and tomato juice (the beer isn't in the recipe!)
Jonas sautéing the garlic, pepper flakes and anchovies	After the tomatoes, capers, olives, and parsley were added.
Dinner is served!

Recipe source: America's Test Kitchen