Basil/6 recipes

Polenta pie with a cornmeal crust, pizza sauce, porcini mushrooms, and homemade yogurt cheese topped with capers and parmesan. A low-fat vegetarian take on deep-dish pizza.

Asparagus shrimp salad with herb dressing marinates plump shrimp and crisp-tender spears in a vinaigrette sharp with basil, oregano, and chervil. Cool, make-ahead salad served over lettuce with diced tomato and Monterey Jack.

Vegetarian spaghetti with pressed tofu cooked to a ground-beef texture, mushrooms, herbs, garlic, tamari, and red wine. A meatless pasta that eats like a classic Bolognese.

Carol's lasagna stacks six noodle layers with a triple-cheese mix of ricotta, cottage, and romano, plus mozzarella and a slow-simmered ground beef tomato sauce. The classic baked pasta done generously.

Herbed focaccia, a crisp Italian flatbread with a touch of cornmeal, brushed with warm garlic-herb olive oil and showered with kosher salt. Thin and crackly, it's made for open sandwiches and freezes well.

Ranchera sauce made from scratch with a roux-thickened tomato base, cumin, garlic, and fresh vegetables. A versatile Mexican sauce for rice, enchiladas, and huevos rancheros.

Vegan pesto tofu manicotti: shells stuffed with mashed soft tofu, basil pesto, scallions, peppers, and mushrooms. Topped with marinara and shredded soy mozzarella, baked until bubbly. Plant-based dinner-party comfort food.

Rice and bean casserole with brown rice, pink beans, cottage cheese, and wheat germ, topped with sesame seeds. A high-protein vegetarian one-dish meal.

Don't let the combination of ingredients scare you off -- the texture created by the feta cheese combined with the smallest hint of cucumber makes this a wonderful bread. This is definitely a bread to accompany a hot meal. It's recommended with char-grilled marinated lamb chops or your favorite lamb kabobs.

Cajun seafood stuffed flounder filled with shrimp, oysters, bacon, and cheddar, fried crispy on one side and finished in a blazing hot oven. Bold Louisiana flavors.

Baked spinach and potato frittata with hash browns, shredded carrot, red pepper, and fresh basil. A hearty 8-egg brunch casserole that feeds six and slices like a savory egg pie.

Crispy red snapper cakes loaded with Creole seasoning, basil, cilantro, Dijon, and lime, sauteed golden in butter. Served with a spicy roasted pepper sauce.

Northern Italian style lasagna layered with a bacon-rich meat sauce, a creamy nutmeg-scented white sauce, and a parmesan-ricotta filling. Richer and creamier than the usual red-sauce version.

Fat-free Alfredo sauce over fettuccine made with skim evaporated milk, garlic sauteed in white wine, and nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor without the cheese. A lighter take on the classic cream pasta.

Entertain company with this amazing casserole made with chicken, vegetables and a variety of cheeses.

Pasta e fagioli: Italian bean and pasta soup with white kidney beans, canned tomatoes, sun-dried tomato, basil, and oregano. A rustic vegetarian one-pot that thickens into a hearty meal.