Categories: Quick and Easy, Children, Gluten free*use gluten free pasta, Vegetarian Baked pasta dishes are typical for major holidays and occasions in Italy. Pasta al forno usually means lasagne in the north and medium to large pasta or wide tagliatelle layered with different sauces and ingredients in the south. This dish is vegetarian and a favourite with young and old. Parts of the top become crunchy caramelised pasta and these are my family's favourite bits. The dish is popular for holidays because of its wide appeal but also because it leaves you free to speak to guests prior to the meal. For this reason, it is a favourite mid-week recipe of mine as I juggle three children. Preparation, typically goes like this: cook the pasta and mix with the other ingredients, pop it in the oven, go collect the children from school, take it from the oven while the children unpack their bags and when everyone is ready, serve!