Three Mediterranean pantry staples—tapenade, hummus, and herbes de Provence—are used to make these individual appetizers that got high marks from the VT staff. Serve on a bed of greens dressed with balsamic vinaigrette, and follow with a vegetable-laced stew.
Unlike most baked pasta recipes, this one starts with uncooked pasta so it's super convenient. With the added water and canned diced tomatoes, the pasta cooks in the oven along with the chicken and cheese for an easy one-dish meal.
I started making tres leches because it is my neighbor's favorite thing and I like her. I started with Martha Stewart's recipe which is a great jumping off point -- but it is not as juicy as a traditional tres leches, which you will find resting in a shallow lake of sweet milk. So I adjusted up for that, and here I have swapped in some coconut, some lime (because it is one of coconut's BFFs) and I used Tahitian vanilla which is a bit more floral than Mexican (but if you can't find it, go with whatcha got). It's rich and milky and coconutty and good. Ask the neighbors.
