Garlic

What better way to indulge in a little chocolate than by adding it to a plethora of healthy greens, pine nuts, and feta cheese? You’ll be looking for an excuse to eat your vegetables with this surprising twist on vinaigrette.

While this meat-and-potatoes combo cooks, prepare a green vegetable and one of our speedy desserts.

Shredded potatoes serve as a tasty alternative to the bread crumbs that traditionally hold meat loaf ingredients together.

A taste of Italy, this tender roast gets a robust herb rub, then is left to bake or cook in the slow cooker. Among the recipes we’ve included for using the planned-over portion are Thai Beef Salad (page 91), Beef Salad with Vinaigrette or Horseradish Dressing (page 92), and Blue Cheese Beef and Fries (page 201).

Known as a festive, regal dish in India and Pakistan, biryani is packed with flavor. Don’t be scared off by the long list of ingredients. The dish really is quick and easy to prepare.

For a delicious Italian dinner, serve this flavorful combination of portobello mushrooms, bell peppers, and plum tomatoes with brown rice or on your favorite whole-grain pasta.

This basic stir-fry recipe gives you many options. You can choose between the Asian and Italian flavorings (see Italian Stir-Fry on page 147), and you can vary the meat by replacing the chicken with round steak, pork chops or tenderloin, firm-fleshed fish, bay scallops, or tofu. Save even more time by using precut vegetables or frozen mixed vegetables (no need to thaw before cooking). Even if you make only half this recipe, you’ll probably want to make the entire amount of sauce.

This recipe will eliminate all doubt that good-for-you tofu can be tasty, too!

This yummy chicken and gravy combination goes well with just about any side dish.

To jazz up black beans and rice, add the exciting flavors of rich olive oil, tangy lime juice, and assertive garlic.

With the texture of steak and the benefits of fish, tuna is a true winner. So is this easy, easy dish. Grill some fresh vegetables at the same time, slice some tomatoes, and call the family to dinner.

Bottled peanut satay sauce is a convenient way to add the traditional Thai flavor combination of basil, peanut, and coconut to your cooking.

Rosemary and two kinds of pepper ramp up the flavor of this tempting, inexpensive entrée.

Antioxidant-rich kale is sure to become a staple in your kitchen after you taste it paired with onion-and-garlic bread crumbs.

You’ll notice the cooking time of the mushrooms may be as short as 5 minutes or as long as 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the sliced mushrooms you buy. If your mushrooms are thinner, they’ll take less time. Thicker slices will obviously take a bit longer. However, thick or thin, this recipe will cooperate nicely. Just make sure to pay attention to the cooking time.

When I first saw the “herbs in tubes,” as I call them, referring to Gourmet Garden’s herb blends, I thought I wouldn’t like them. But with one try, I became hooked, particularly to the garlic blend. This rendition of a margarita pizza is one of my favorite applications for them. It’s insanely easy to throw together and especially tasty, considering the little amount of time it takes. If you’re having trouble finding these herbs, visit gourmetgarden.com and check out their store locator. Or you can look for herbs frozen in trays. At my local Trader Joe’s, they sell frozen chopped garlic and chopped basil in trays from a brand called Dorot. Just be sure to measure the herbs yourself instead of relying on the measurements listed on the package (I found 1 teaspoon of basil was more than 1 cube, though the package says that 1 cube is equivalent to 1 teaspoon).