Recipes with parsley leaves

Cream of pumpkin soup with fresh or canned pumpkin pureed with onions, celery, garlic, and thyme, finished with cottage cheese for silky body. Lighter take on a Thanksgiving classic.

A simple salad with big health credentials: avocados are an excellent source of good fats, and more recently have been shown to also inhibit inflammation when eaten in combination with foods that typically trigger it. They are also a rich source of potassium (which balances sodium to keep blood pressure levels stable) and vitamin E, an important antioxidant.

Spinach lasagne layers a creamy ricotta-parmesan-spinach filling with no-boil noodles and tomato sauce, all under bubbling mozzarella and Monterey jack. A vegetarian classic that skips the noodle-boiling step.

Classic Middle Eastern hummus blended from cooked chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, four cloves of garlic, and a generous drizzle of olive oil. The pita-and-falafel sidekick that holds its own as a meal.

Chicken ultraburgers use cooked chicken pulsed with brown rice, Dijon mustard, and parsley for a lighter, healthier burger. A clever way to repurpose leftover chicken.

Chicken ultraburgers use cooked chicken pulsed with brown rice, Dijon mustard, and parsley for a lighter, healthier burger. A clever way to repurpose leftover chicken.

Quick lemon orzo pasta tossed with olive oil, sauteed bell peppers, green onions, and fresh parsley. A bright, zesty side dish ready in 20 minutes with an optional Parmesan finish.

New Orleans muffaletta: a round Italian loaf piled with salami, mortadella, prosciutto, and provolone, soaked with a briny green olive salad. The classic Sicilian-Creole deli sandwich, made for sharing.

A hearty yet wholesome winter soup is made with apple, potato, butternut squash, cheddar and prosciutto, simmered in a mixture of cider, broth and milk. It's creamy, tasty and packed with goodness.

Beef boulette burgers fold sour cream, mushrooms, and parsley into ground beef for tender French-Canadian-style patties. Juicier than standard burgers, broiler or grill ready.

Spicy red bean soup with a smoky ham hock, cheesecloth-bundled cumin and cayenne, and a finish of Tabasco and parsley. A slow-simmered pot of Southern comfort food.

Microwave ginger squash soup with butternut, fresh ginger, orange juice and zest, finished with nutmeg. An elegant fall starter ready in 30 minutes, no stovetop required.

Spaghetti and meatballs simmered in a slow-cooked tomato sauce with red wine, mushrooms, green pepper, basil, and oregano. Tender pan-fried beef meatballs and a deeply layered sauce that builds for two hours.

Spaghetti and meatballs simmered in a slow-cooked tomato sauce with red wine, mushrooms, green pepper, basil, and oregano. Tender pan-fried beef meatballs and a deeply layered sauce that builds for two hours.

Herbed fresh tomato soup blends six peeled tomatoes with basil, thyme, and a hit of hot pepper sauce, then purees smooth for a low-fat, freezer-friendly weeknight bowl. Light, herby, and budget kind.

Baked parmesan-crusted chicken: bite-size pieces dipped in garlic butter, rolled in a Parmesan-breadcrumb coating, and baked hot until golden and crunchy. The family trick is cutting the chicken small.