Orzo with spinach and toasted pine nuts, cooked risotto-style in garlic-infused water with Parmesan. A 15-minute Mediterranean side dish or light vegetarian dinner.
Swiss steak with flour-pounded round steak braised in tomatoes, onions, celery, and green pepper. A retro skillet supper simmered fork-tender in 90 minutes.
Asian-style stuffed mushrooms with crispy bacon, soy sauce, sesame seeds, and garlic in a savory bread crumb filling. Blanched caps keep their shape, and they're make-ahead friendly.
Bologna rice skillet uses up pantry leftovers in one pan with toasted rice, diced bologna, tomatoes, corn, and onion. Vintage stretch-the-meat casserole, ready in under 40 minutes.
Slow-simmered black bean soup with ham hocks, cumin, jalapeno, and dry sherry, pureed thick and finished with fresh lime juice. A from-scratch Sunday soup worth the wait.
Spicy lentil potato stew simmers brown lentils, cubed potatoes, carrots, and celery in tomato juice with chili powder, oregano, and basil for a hearty one-pot vegan dinner.
Corn chili: a vegetarian Mexican-style chili built on rehydrated ancho chiles, fresh corn, and beer. Deep smoky heat balanced by sweet corn puree and finished with lime. Meatless chili that tastes serious.
Crispy toasted mushroom rolls with a creamy duxelles filling of sauteed mushrooms, cream, chives, and marjoram wrapped in flattened white bread. A freezer-friendly party appetizer.
Peppery arugula pesto with basil, pine nuts, black olives, lime juice and cumin. Bold cheese-free pesto for pasta, sandwiches or roasted vegetables.
This is excellent served as a spread over fresh French bread or roasted potatoes.
Roasting turns broccoli into an addictive side. This crowd-pleaser can be prepared in no time.
Pasta with zucchini and roasted garlic tossed with thyme and rosemary. The garlic roasts in a foil packet while the pasta cooks, then gets mashed into a creamy sauce. Simple and vegan.
Quick sauteed salmon steaks pan-finished in butter with soy sauce and garlic powder, plated with lemon. Five ingredients, 15 minutes, weeknight-dinner heroics for under $10 a serving.
Crispy roasted chickpeas tossed in garlic butter with curry powder, cumin, coriander, and ginger. A crunchy, spiced vegetarian snack baked until golden.
Creamy pureed parsnip and carrot soup with half-and-half, fresh herbs, and a crispy bacon garnish. A silky root vegetable soup for cool-weather dinners.
Honey mustard balsamic vinaigrette with Dijon, garlic, and a kick of hot sauce. A sweet-tangy, emulsified salad dressing that takes 5 minutes and beats anything store-bought.