Basil/2 recipes

Spicy penne pasta tossed with sun-dried tomatoes, crushed red chile, oil-cured black olives, fresh basil, parsley, and Parmesan in a no-cook olive oil sauce.

Roasted vegetable sandwich on French baguette with eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, and red pepper. Lemon-basil yogurt spread, peppery watercress. Vegetarian lunch.

Hearty vegetable soup with pot barley, macaroni, cabbage, potatoes, mixed vegetables, and your choice of chicken, beef, or ham. One pot, serves 8, uses up the fridge.

Swiss kuttle soup from Ticino: a rustic Alpine tripe soup with carrots, leeks, celeriac, cabbage, bacon, red wine, and parmesan. Old-country comfort food at its most honest.

Oyster artichoke bisque is a classic Louisiana creole soup: fresh oysters, artichoke bottoms, bacon, and heavy cream simmered with the holy trinity for a rich silky bowl.

A cozy turkey and biscuit bake: leftover turkey in a creamy sauce with peppers, mushrooms and spinach, ringed with homemade garlic biscuits and baked golden. A holiday leftover rescue.

Lemon-pepper barbecued chicken: skinless chicken breasts baked in a homemade tomato barbecue sauce brightened with lemon, cider vinegar, and a peppery, mustardy kick. A tangy, lighter take on oven BBQ chicken.

Vegan millet cauliflower soup with a creamy cashew-miso base and toasted millet for nutty depth. A hearty, dairy-free soup loaded with vegetables and fresh herbs.

Low-fat fettuccine primavera tossed with broccoli, red bell pepper, and a microwave cheese sauce made from skim milk, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Light, creamy, and under 30 minutes.

Five-cheese baked macaroni with cheddar, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Parmesan, and goat cheese, plus prosciutto and fresh herbs. Make-ahead grown-up mac and cheese.

Italian barley soup slow-simmered for 3 hours with red wine, tomatoes, garlic, fresh herbs, and Parmesan. A thick, hearty vegetarian soup with deep, layered flavor from the long cook.

Fettuccine tossed with melted goat cheese, roasted red and yellow peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, and capers. A Mediterranean pasta ready in 25 minutes.

Steamed fish rolls: salmon and sole wrapped in napa cabbage leaves, bamboo-steamed and served over a silky roasted red pepper sauce. An elegant, low-fat dinner party starter.

Easy spaghetti casserole layered with a from-scratch beef and mushroom tomato sauce, tangled spaghetti and sharp cheddar, then baked under a crunchy bread crumb crust. A bubbling, crowd-feeding weeknight bake.

Grilled chicken adobo marinated in Yucatecan achiote paste, orange juice, cinnamon, and basil. Stains the chicken deep red-orange and delivers smoky, citrusy flavor straight from the Mexican Caribbean coast.

Meatless lasagna with three cheeses: ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan layered with a garlic-basil tomato sauce made from canned tomatoes, paste, and sauce.