Recipes with parsley sprigs

Stuffed green bell peppers filled with brown rice, chopped nuts, and herbs simmered in tomato juice. A vegetarian main dish baked with the pepper lids on.

Chilled cream of vegetable soup with spinach, carrots, celery, and green pepper, pureed and enriched with egg yolks and half-and-half. Served cold with sour cream and fresh herbs.

Indian chicken pies with flaky lard-and-margarine pastry wrapped around garam masala-spiced chicken, mushrooms, and corn. Handheld curry-pot pies worth the weekend effort.

Mediterranean mushrooms simmered in a garlicky tomato and olive oil broth with lemon juice, bay leaf, and fresh parsley. A low-calorie vegetarian side dish or appetizer bursting with bright, clean flavors.

Roasted bell pepper rolls stuffed with tuna, capers, and parsley in a lemon-garlic olive oil marinade. An elegant Italian appetizer that can be assembled a day ahead.

Creamy garlic soup simmers a whole bulb of garlic with herbs, then thickens with an egg yolk and olive oil liaison for rich, velvety body. Served with toasted baguette rounds and grated Swiss cheese.

Poached salmon steaks for two, simmered in an aromatic bay-dill-peppercorn broth and served with a cool yogurt-cucumber sauce. Light, elegant date-night dinner.

Southern chicken and okra gumbo with salt pork, fresh tomatoes, and hot pepper, served over fluffy white rice. A slow-simmered Plains-style gumbo with deep, smoky flavor.

Salmon corncakes flake poached salmon with sweet corn, shallots, peppers, and cilantro into pan-fried cracker-crumbed patties. Pacific Northwest meets Southwestern in one crispy bite.

Lobster with curry sauce from Bon Appetit: poached lobster medallions served over a silky reduction of tomato, Calvados, white wine, and warm curry spices. A dinner-party centerpiece with French technique.

White veal stock, the classic clear, pale fond blanc made by blanching veal and chicken bones, then simmering low with aromatics for hours. A neutral, gelatin-rich base for fine sauces and soups.

Soupe de saumon a la creme is a French salmon cream soup made with a homemade fish stock, diced salmon, and whipped cream finished with fresh dill. An elegant, light first course for a dinner party.

Classic mushroom bisque with sauteed mushrooms in a butter-cream roux with dry mustard, chives, and a splash of sherry. Rich, velvety, and ready in 25 minutes.

Clam risotto with red chile powder, Roma tomatoes, and bell peppers finished with Parmigiano-Reggiano. Arborio rice cooked in homemade clam broth for deep seafood flavor.

Savoury mushroom sauce is a rich vegan gravy made from dried porcini extract, tamari, maple syrup, and arrowroot. A gluten-free, dairy-free topping for rice, potatoes, or pasta.

Chicken with forty cloves of garlic braised in olive oil, vermouth, and tarragon under a sealed lid. A classic French dish where the garlic turns soft and buttery enough to spread on bread.