Basil/10 recipes

My favorite as a child growing up in cold Minnesota.

Even if you don't like eggplant, you will love this dish. Roasting develops huge amount of flavor and gets rid of most of the moisture from the vegetables. Roasted garlic just adds more yumminess. A delicious pasta dish that can be served as a side dish or a vegetarian main course.

A light and healthy version of a creamy ranch salad dressing.

A hearty vegetarian version of my favorite soup. It's easy to make it vegetarian by using roasted vegetable stock instead of beef stock. By adding a leftover parmesan rind (I save them in the freezer for this soup) it adds extra flavor. (optional)

This recipe is over 100 years old. I add a twist to the recipe (and a little sweetness) by adding some golden raisins, like my favorite restaurant in Provincetown, Mass., does.

Quick and easy to make, and the salad tastes refreshing and delicious.

Sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, basil and feta cheese give the nutty crackers tangy Mediterranean flavors, and these crackers are great with cheddar cheese, cream cheese or any cheese you like to go together. They are great appetizer or snack when you have company to come over.

Asparagus and bacon are a match made in heaven. Baked into a quiche it's prefect for a Sunday brunch. Quite easy to prepare if you use a ready made pie shell.

Fresh bruschetta is juicy and flavorful, mozzarella cheese adds the extra layer of cheesiness, and the combination is filled into grilled portobello mushrooms. You may need extra napkin to catch up all these juicy and yummy drippings!

Super easy marinated shrimp, skewered then grilled to perfection. Great as a warm weather main dish or as an appetizer/hors d'oevres.

A hearty beef stew served over mashed potatoes - a cold weather delight!

Grilled marinated portobello is tender, juicy and flavorful. Place it on the sandwich bread, and a delicious meatless sandwich. Toss some fresh mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and radishes with a light vinaigrette, serve it beside the sandwich, here you have a hearty and tasty meal.

Super moist and cheesy bread topped with caramelized shallots or red onions and brushed with basil-olive oil. The aroma from the oven during the baking will fill up your entire house, and this bread will not last long.

Instead of pizza, let's make something different. Use pizza dough to make some pizza rolls filled with sun-dried tomatoes, basil pesto and artichoke hearts, and brushed with garlic infused olive oil. These cute pizza rolls are very handy and frozen well. Enjoy these small tasty rolls at any time when you feel hungry or crave a slice of pizza. You will love them.

Summer squash, zucchini and fennel bulb are all freshly seasonal. Fire up the BBQ, grill these fresh vegetables, toss with juicy cherry tomates, a light and tasty vinaigrette and feta cheese. You can pair it with any grilled meat. Next day the leftover can be wrapped into wraps, or tortillas, or topping for pizza, another quick, easy and delicious meal!