Basil/6 recipes

Pasta with beans, the Italian-American take on pasta e fagioli, with elbow macaroni tossed into a brothy tomato base loaded with cannellini beans, garlic, and Parmesan. Rustic one-pot comfort food.

Roasted vegetable salad with tomatoes, bell peppers, squash, zucchini, and new potatoes tossed in balsamic-garlic dressing. A farmers market side that eats like summer on a sheet pan, finished with fresh basil.

Puttanesca sauce with briny olives, capers, and red pepper flakes simmered in crushed Roma tomatoes and tossed with spaghetti for a bold, punchy weeknight pasta.

Slow cooker minestrone hamburger soup loaded with ground beef, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes. Dump everything in the Crock-Pot and let it simmer all day.

Red potato salad with a tangy grainy mustard and yogurt dressing, scallions, celery, and black olives. Low-fat, mayo-free, and great served warm or cold.

Vegetarian lentil macaroni bake with tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, and elbow pasta. Slow-baked one-pot meal with high fiber and meaty texture from lentils.

Puffy Creole eggplant souffle with the holy trinity, fresh basil, cheese, and a kick of cayenne. Light as air with deep Southern flavor in every spoonful.

Savory zucchini quick bread loaded with French fried onions, Parmesan and fresh basil. A no-yeast loaf that bakes up tender, herby, and toasts beautifully the next morning.

Cheese tortelloni tossed with stir-fried cabbage, red, yellow, and green bell peppers in olive oil with basil. A colorful vegetarian pasta dinner that comes together in one hour.

Steamed salmon in orange-tomato sauce poaches skinless salmon fillets over a bright reduction of orange juice, white wine, garlic, and plum tomatoes, perfumed with fresh basil. A light, low-fat 35-minute weeknight dinner.

Ground beef simmered with warm cinnamon, oregano, and tomato sauce layered between broiled eggplant slices for this beloved Greek comfort food. A family-friendly take on classic moussaka.

A hearty ground beef and spinach casserole layered with cottage cheese and bubbly mozzarella in a rich tomato sauce with mushrooms. Like lasagna without the noodles.

Cheese ravioli tossed in homemade broccoli pesto with walnuts, Parmesan, and lemon. A vibrant vegetarian pasta that puts a whole head of broccoli to work.

Low-calorie broccoli soup blended smooth with carrots, celery, and herbs, studded with whole broccoli buds and elbow macaroni. Creamy comfort without the cream.

Beef brisket marinated 48 hours in red wine vinegar with herbs, then smoked 6-7 hours at 225°F for tender, aromatic slices.

I made this for my bridge club. All eight gals including me loved it. The other seven asked for the recipe. It's easy to make and delicious. The lemon and fresh basil add a lot to the recipe. Interestingly enough, Kraft doesn't have this on their recipe web site even though it's one of their recipes.