Salad recipes

Green rice casserole with spinach, ricotta, Monterey Jack cheese, and cooked rice. A quick 30-minute vegetarian side dish baked with a melted cheese topping.

Light fluffy and cheesy. A great party in "la bouche" (the mouth). Can be made ahead and popped in the oven when you're ready to bake them up fresh. The probability is that each person will have no problem consuming 4 per serving!

Crispy breaded feta-stuffed chicken breasts baked until golden and served over a fresh spinach basil salad dressed with balsamic vinegar. A light, elegant stuffed chicken breast dinner ready in 40 minutes with tangy, creamy feta in every slice.

Individual crustless spinach and feta pies baked in ramekins with mint, nutmeg, and a bright Greek tomato salad on the side. A Mediterranean appetizer or light main.

Hot artichoke dip baked with mayonnaise, Parmesan, garlic, and green chiles until golden and bubbly. Five ingredients, 30 minutes, and always the first thing gone at a party.

Spinach, blue cheese, pecan, and cranberry wraps: a tangy cream cheese spread studded with blue cheese, toasted pecans, and dried cranberries, rolled with crisp apple and baby spinach. A no-cook salad in a tortilla.

Here is a kind of throw together recipe I came up with: If you are entertaining you can garnish with fresh parsley and serve with a caesar salad, garlic bread and a nice chablis. The vegetables can vary. I've used mushrooms, spinach, cauliflower etc. Grouper works well with this because it has a lot of flavor. I've used fresh tuna and halibut but prefer grouper.

Baked couscous casserole with black beans, corn, roasted red peppers, and creamy ricotta, served over fresh spinach. A hearty vegetarian one-dish dinner for six.