Easy-to-assemble layers of cooked noodles, vegetables and creamy cheeses mingle with a rich, chunk-style pasta sauce make dinner extra special tonight or any night.
Italian ragus tend to be long-simmered dishes, but a French ragout is a quicker affair, a thick, cheesy stew. Tossed over pasta, this one is a true fusion, a halfway point between ragu and ragout.
Perfect for any occasion from a spring dinner party to a light lunch, this smooth carrot soup flavored with loads of fresh cilantro and coriander seed is tasty and healthy.
The hot dressing poured over this salad slightly wilts the greens without cooking them. Chilling the salad lets the flavors develop. Serve as a side dish, or use instead of lettuce to top vegetarian barbecue. Other greens to try in this recipe: Swiss chard, beet greens, or flat-leafed kale.
This Spanish classic is simple to prepare and easily doubled to serve a crowd. Artichokes, bell peppers, mushrooms and olives cooked with nutty brown rice make this a hearty one-dish meal. The blend of exotic spices including saffron and tumeric give an extra special flavor.
Dried beans are a pantry superhero - inexpensive and easy to prepare. Get a head start by cooking the beans in advance. They can be stored, covered and refrigerated, up to 3 days.
