Be sure to buy good-quality dried porcini mushrooms (with large white cross sections). Cheaper ones are dark and shriveled and have an overly pungent aroma, which will give the stew an off taste.
Arugula pesto is peppery and bright. The trick is to blanch the arugula and squeeze it dry, so when you blend it with the pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and cheese, the resulting pesto isn't too wet.
Inspired by the rustic and time-consuming French classic, our cassoulet, made with leftover turkey or chicken and canned beans, makes a simple, hearty supper.
This recipe features a surprise ingredient–green grapes–that adds the just-right amount of sweetness to the simple, two-step pasta dinner. Serve with pan-grilled asparagus.
