If you're in the mood for pasta, but want something a little different, try a different sauce. Here are five sauce ideas that will take your pasta from boring to wow!

Lemon And Artichoke Pesto

In a blender or food processor, add the following:

• three garlic cloves
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 cup raw almonds
• ½ cup packed basil leaves
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese
• one small jar of artichokes and their liquid

Pulse until just blended. Toss with angel hair for a light and refreshing vegetarian dinner.

Puttanesca Sauce

This briny, spicy chunky tomato sauce goes great with spaghetti. Sauté three minced cloves of garlic, one small diced onion, and ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes in extra-virgin olive oil. Add one 35-ounce can of whole Italian tomatoes, one tablespoon tomato paste, 6-8 anchovy fillets, one tablespoon capers, ½ cup chopped Kalamata or green olives, and 3 chopped fresh basil leaves.

Cook over low heat, breaking down the whole tomatoes. Add a pinch of sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, and freshly cracked black pepper right before serving.

Carbonara

This sauce is great with linguine or spaghetti. Fry six pieces of bacon until crisp. Set aside to cool. Sauté three minced cloves of garlic in the bacon grease. When the bacon is cool enough, crumble it with your hands into a large mixing bowl. Add the drained, piping hot pasta, ½ cup of Parmesan cheese, and two raw eggs. Toss, dispersing the eggs throughout. The heat of the pasta will quickly cook the eggs. Top with freshly chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley, salt to taste, and coarsely ground black pepper.

Cream Cheese & Chives Sauce

This creamy sauce goes great with shrimp or chicken and is tasty just on its own. Heat one 8-ounce container of cream cheese with chives and one 16-ounce can of reduced-sodium chicken broth, stirring frequently to incorporate. Simmer over low heat until the sauce is reduced. Add ½ cup Parmesan cheese and then toss the sauce with rigatoni or ziti. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving.

Romesco Sauce

This sauce uses jarred and marinated roasted red peppers for a quick and easy sauce. Place one or two whole peppers in a food processor along with the following:

• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ½ cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ¼ cup chopped parsley
• ½ cup pine nuts.

Pulse until well blended. Toss sauce with penne or bow-tie pasta and sprinkle with grated Parmesan when serving.

Of course, if you're not feel motivated to make one of these easy sauces, you can always visit local Italian restaurants like Tony & Joe's Pizzeria and get some fresh ideas there.