Basil/21 recipes

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

Artisan whole wheat bread loaded with sunflower seeds, sesame, herbs, and decorative seed toppings. Hearty high-fiber yeast bread with beautiful scored patterns.

Herbed whole wheat bread is a soft, tender homemade loaf flecked with rolled oats, dried basil, and oregano. Sweetened lightly with honey and made with milk for a hearty everyday sandwich or toast bread.

Diabetic-friendly cottage cheese vegetable casserole with egg noodles, carrots, mushrooms, basil, and thyme. A low-fat, high-protein noodle bake using 1% cottage cheese and skim milk.

Lavender herb bread baked in the bread machine with cottage cheese, honey, thyme, and basil. A floral, savory loaf with tender crumb that slices beautifully for sandwiches or toast.

A lighter noodle casserole made with low-fat cottage cheese, skim milk, carrots, and mushrooms seasoned with basil and thyme. Diabetic-friendly and big enough to feed a crowd. Serves 12.

Low-fat open-faced vegetable sandwiches on whole wheat toast with a cottage cheese, mushroom, and sprout spread topped with melted low-fat cheese. A vegetarian lunch under 100 calories.

Spinach lasagne with sauteed mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, and fresh wilted spinach folded into a three-cheese filling. A vegetarian Italian lasagna with no jarred sauce needed.

A homemade pepper and mushroom pizza on a from-scratch yeast crust, spread with a creamy blended cottage cheese and Parmesan sauce instead of red sauce, then loaded with mozzarella. A lighter, veggie-packed pie.

A layered baked spaghetti casserole with crumbled tofu, cottage cheese, and melty mozzarella in a herb-tomato sauce. The surprise? It's vegetarian and nobody will guess.

Slow cooker vegetable fettuccine with zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms, and carrots tossed in a creamy Parmesan-mozzarella sauce. A vegetarian crockpot pasta that does the work while you're out.

Crustless vegetable quiche with broccoli, potatoes, and red peppers in a light cottage cheese and egg substitute base. Low-fat, high-protein, and packed with fresh vegetables.

Vegetarian baked pasta with mushrooms, bell pepper, and tomatoes, layered with a cottage cheese filling and topped with savory tomato sauce. Lighter, lower-fat take on classic baked ziti.

Vegetable lasagna layered with zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, and a red wine tomato sauce. Make-ahead and lighter than meat lasagna, with cottage cheese standing in for ricotta.

Layered confetti macaroni casserole with whole wheat pasta, cottage cheese, zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, and tomatoes. No-boil casserole, healthy weeknight dinner.

From McCall's Great American recipe card collection. A reduced fat and calorie Italian American lasagna.