Orange juice and zest balance the natural sweetness in this dairy-free smoothie with refreshing crispness. Using frozen fruit eliminates the need to add ice. A hard-cooked egg or cup of yogurt and a slice of whole-grain toast plus this fruit treat are a smart start for the day.
Fast Fact: Mangoes are rich in vitamin A.
Quick Tip: Keep sliced bananas in a resealable plastic bag in the freezer to use in smoothies.

I also use this dough recipe to make bread, raisin bread and pizza crust.

If you are making a HUGE pot….hot Italian sausage (Kroger brand is just as good as Johnson Brothers)
If you want to tone down the spiciness, use half hot Italian and half mild Italian sausage, ground beef or ground chicken.

Popeye would approve of my version of Dr. Seuss’s favorite dish, which includes spinach and green onions. To avoid cancer-causing nitrites, choose uncured ham. It is sold at natural foods markets and many supermarkets. If you do not eat pork, use turkey bacon instead. A one-dish meal, these colorful eggs make a hearty breakfast accompanied by whole-grain toast.
Fast Fact: Spinach is rich in beta-carotene as well as folate.
Quick Tip: For chopped spinach in seconds, grab a handful of raw leaves or cooked spinach and snip it into strips using kitchen shears.

Another holiday favorite.

If you’ve been to Michael Chiarello’s restautant, Tre Vigne, in California’s Napa Valley, or have seen his TV show on the Food Network, you may be enjoying his Italian cooking, which features big flavors and pleasing unexpected twists. In this salad, he skips the egg found in the classic Caesar dressing and then pairs this lighter dressing with an unusually full-bodied leafy salad. Anchovy lovers, this one’s for you!
Adapted from At Home with Michael Chiarello, by Michael Chiarello (Chronicle Books, 2005).

Fast Fact: Arugula gets its bite from health-promoting sulfur compounds related to those in watercress.
Quick Tip: This dressing likes to sit so that the garlic and anchovy flavors can bloom, so if possible, make it a day ahead. Remove from the refrigerator 1 hour before using to bring it to room temperature.

A Diane Chase original!

Instead of mixed greens, this makes a good first-course salad. It also goes well served with grilled or poached salmon or a butterflied leg of lamb.
Adapted from Salads, 150 Classic and Innovative Recipes for Every Course & Every Meal, by Leonard Schwartz (HarperCollins, 1992)
Fast Fact: Walnut oil contains the same beneficial omega-3 fatty acids as walnuts.
Quick Tip: Leftover dressing tossed with cold boiled potatoes makes a quick potato salad.