Gotta throw in my 2 cents worth:
olives - but not black, they are evil - bugger - can't remember the type - damn beer is getting to me
chillies - added early when you are frying the garlic and onion
My wife has this idea that you have to eat something green with a meal, and we have often added (I know this sounds weird!!) brocholli to a tomato based pasta sauce. Hey, I'm not Italian, I'm cooking "spindles pasta sauce"
Fresh pasta is heaps better than dried. Buy a machine to roll out the dough and take the time to make the pasta yourself. It takes heaps less time to cook in the water and tastes fantastic!!!!!!!