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.
Ma Po Tofu, a classic dish from the Sichuan province of China, inspired this recipe. The original is made with soft tofu and ground pork or beef with plenty of heat from dried chile peppers and Sichuan peppercorns. Portobello mushrooms stand in for the meat in our vegetarian version and convenient jarred chile-garlic sauce gives it plenty of kick. Serve with brown rice.
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.
In this dish, tofu "cutlets" are dredged and sauteed as you would a chicken breast or fish fillet. Try the technique using any of your favorite pan sauces.
We use crisp radishes for a bit of crunch and spiciness in this Crab Salad Sandwich. You can also use chopped fennel, celery, thinly sliced fresh apple, or matchsticks of jicama as alternatives.
This never-fails pear recipe turns out moist, firm and fruity every time. Some members of our family request these rich squares instead of cake for their birthdays.
Brown the pork tenderloin on all sides before baking–this gives the meat a nice sear and seals in the rich flavor. Top with apricot chutney, made from store-bought jam, rice vinegar, mustard seed, and fresh ginger.
Bring out the subtle, earthy flavor of pork tenderloin with dried fruits and apple juice. The port in the sauce adds extra sweetness that balances the kick of the kick of the Dijon mustard. Best of all, the pork cooks in about six minutes.
