Basil/8 recipes

Eggs Italiano tops toasted whole-wheat English muffins with a quick zucchini-tomato saute, a perfectly poached egg, and shaved Parmigiano. A brighter, lighter twist on Eggs Benedict for brunch.

Cheese and pasta pie with a baked spaghetti crust filled with ricotta, spinach, mozzarella, and parmesan. An Italian-style quiche that uses pasta for the crust.

Baked artichoke-feta tortilla wraps with cream cheese, pesto and roasted red pepper on whole wheat tortillas, served with yogurt-chive sauce. Easy vegetarian party appetizer.

A savory and delicious dish made with eggplant, pine nuts and tasty kalamata olives.

Vegetarian bean and brown rice burgers with sunflower seeds, cheddar cheese, and whole wheat flour, pan-fried until golden. A hearty, protein-packed veggie burger with real texture and savory flavor.

Vegetable lasagna packed with broccoli folded right into the ricotta layer, stacked with a chunky homemade tomato sauce of peppers, celery and basil. A hearty meatless lasagna under bubbly mozzarella.

Warm Italian rice salad with crispy parmesan chicken, fresh asparagus, spinach, and walnuts tossed in tangy vinaigrette.

Bacon, Italian sausage, and ground beef simmer low and slow with mushrooms, tomatoes, and red wine in this robust spaghetti sauce. Hints of cinnamon and cloves add depth.

This cheesy chicken & mushroom lasagna saves your time and expense with judicious ingredient choices but doesn't skimp on delivering big, bold flavors. It's a perfect example of how a little ingenuity can turn simple ingredients into a gourmet experience.

Spicy Italian sausage mac and cheese with mushrooms, hot peppers, and two cheeses baked until bubbly. Hearty one-dish comfort food with oregano, basil, and garlic in creamy sauce.

Ziti with Spicy Pesto Pantesco and Locatelli recipe

Tender wine-baked chicken tossed with penne, rehydrated sun-dried tomatoes, portobello mushrooms, and fresh basil in a creamy evaporated milk sauce. This elegant 30-minute pasta dinner tastes like fine dining at home.

A spiced oil made with carrots, sweet bell peppers and red pepper flakes that can really spice up pasta or steamed vegetables.

Serve this scrumptious cheese bread with lasagna or any other kind of casserole you prepare for dinner.

A simple seasoning that can be used for any kind of dish you prepare for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

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.