Today there are many wonderful choices that go far beyond spaghetti with red sauce. If you like lots of clams, add an additional can of drained clams during the final step of the sauce preparation. For maximum flavor, use Italian flat-leaf parsley in your sauce and as a final garnish to your pasta bowls. If you like a little zip to your sauce, add a small pinch of dried red pepper flakes to the sauce as it reduces.
Pine nuts are available in the grocery store in bulk or in jars.
They usually are raw and need to be toasted. To toast nuts, place them on a roasting pan in a single layer. Place in a 400-degree oven and toss several times until nuts are light golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Sprinkle with salt if desired. A favorite is linguine with white clam sauce.