Traditional Shepherd’s Pie is usually made with ground meat and white potatoes. I like this one because it has sweet potatoes mixed in and omits the meat filling. The curried lentil filling is sandwiched between two layers of creamy potato filling sitting on a crouton crust baked on top of sweet zucchini. I serve this as an entree with a simple chopped tomato salad.

serves 6
You might need to buy:
  • medium or large sweet potatoes
  • medium or large white potatoes
  • CURRIED LENTIL FILLING:
  • lentils
  • sliced onions
  • sliced shiitake or button mushrooms
  • broccoli florets
  • yellow or red bell pepper
  • nutritional yeast
  • cornstarch
  • zucchini
  • bread crumbs or premade croutons
  • GARNISH:
  • thinly sliced scallions or green onion

This delicious, vegetable-filled broth can be served by itself or used as a base for other soups. The vegetables used in this soup are often just added to soup liquids for cooking. This recipe oven-roasts them first, enhancing their flavor. Your kitchen will fill with the aromas of the roasting vegetables evoking old-fashioned, home-style meals. Comfort food at its finest.

serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • large carrots
  • celery
  • dried mushroom pieces

This creamy purée shows how using fruit in savory soups adds a nice, mellow flavor. Pears, because they are high in fiber, add body, too. If you buy the squash pre-cut, this soup is a good choice when you are entertaining because it is rich enough to be special while it lets you devote more time to other preparations. Chefs use leeks frizzled in a little oil to garnish dishes and add pungent flavor.
Fast Fact: While higher in fat than milk, cream is far lower in sugar and carbs.
Quick Tip: Large leeks tend to be woody, so buy them an inch or less in diameter.

serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • unsalted butter or canola oil
  • large leek
  • medium carrot
  • chopped peeled butternut squash
  • ground cloves
  • heavy cream or milk
  • large leek
serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • sesame oil
  • fresh ginger
  • green beans
  • medium carrot
  • medium red bell pepper
  • chili sauce
  • hot chili garlic sauce
  • soy sauce
  • firm tofu

Naomi Duguid and Jeffrey Alford have trekked through most of Asia, photographing and cooking with tribesmen, local women, and street vendors, then sharing recipes from their adventures in award-winning cookbooks like Flatbreads and Flavors (William Morrow, 1995) and Mangoes and Curry Leaves (Artisan, 2005). I think they will forgive me for adding green beans and straw mushrooms to their recipe for the nourishing but minimal vegetable soup they ate at a truck-stop on the Plain of Jars in Laos.
Adapted from Hot Sour Salty Sweet: A Culinary Tour Through Southeast Asia, by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid (Artisan, 2000).

Fast Fact: In Asia, fish sauce is considered so indispensable in dishes that many vegetarian cooks use it
Quick Tip: For variety, make this soup using prepared mushroom broth or instant miso.

serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • Thai fish sauce
  • fresh ginger
  • small onion
  • coarsely chopped Savoy cabbage
  • cauliflower florets
  • green beans
  • canned straw mushrooms
  • small tomato

Calories: 318

Total Fat: 17.2g
Cholesterol: 12mg
Sodium: 1162mg
Total Carbs: 36.2g
Dietary Fiber: 6g
Protein: 8.5g

ready in about an hour; serves 12
You might need to buy:
  • ground cumin
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • tortilla chips
  • shredded Cheddar cheese

Parsley and walnuts add extra health benefits to this version of aglio e olio, the Italian classic of spaghetti with garlic and oil. I like using whole-grain pasta made from farro, an ancient form of Italian wheat that tastes mild and nutty. Specialty stores and natural foods markets have this pasta di farro, made by Manicaretti or Latini, while supermarkets, usually sell whole-wheat spaghetti. (Those from DeCecco and Delverde are especially good.)
Fast Fact: Walnuts are the only nut containing ellagic acid, an important antioxidant.
Quick Tip: Roasting the nuts at 350º F. for 5 minutes improves their flavor.

serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • farro or whole-wheat spaghetti
  • chopped walnuts
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • Freshly grated pecorino Romano cheese
Belongs to somebetty APPLESAUCE CAKE 
You might need to buy:
  • CINNAMON
  • GINGER
  • SALT AND CLOVES
  • APPLESAUCE
  • BROWN SUGAR
  • MOLASSES
  • OIL
  • EGGS
  • BAKING SODA
  • BROWN FLOUR
  • FLOUR
  • RAISINS
serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • Stuffing:
  • unsalted butter
  • finely chopped onion
  • finely chopped green bell pepper
  • finely chopped red bell pepper
  • eggs
  • juice of 1/2 small lemon
  • dried thyme
  • dried oregano
  • dried basil
  • salt
  • freshly ground white pepper
  • Paupiette Assembly:
  • salt
  • freshly ground white pepper
  • unsalted butter
  • thinly sliced white button mushrooms
  • all-purpose flour
  • heavy cream
  • chopped fresh parsley

This recipe calls for flavoring the bread with salt, poppy seeds, and caraway seeds, but the options are virtually endless. You might try curry powder or paprika, which are also delicious. Cracker bread pairs nicely with stews, soups, and salads. For a dramatic and attractive presentation, break the baked bread haphazardly into large pieces and arrange them in baskets.

You might need to buy:
  • water
  • dry active yeast
  • honey
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • eggs
  • water
  • caraway seeds
  • poppy seeds
  • kosher salt