4,379 fresh recipes

Cucumber, red onion and watercress salad with thin pickling cucumber slices marinated in seasoned rice vinegar, tossed with oil and arranged on a peppery watercress wreath. A clean, refreshing side for rich meals.

A great Autumn favorite, with a bit of added "zing". NOTE: May be covered loosely with plastic wrap and done in microwave (on high about 6 minutes) and then remove plastic wrap and put apples under preheated broiler for about 2 minutes.

Roman-style concia: zucchini slices fried golden in olive oil, then layered with garlic, basil, and vinegar. An old-world Italian appetizer that improves as it sits.

Sopa seca turns crumbled vermicelli into a dry Mexican noodle dish with onion, garlic, green chiles, and tomato. Vegetarian and oil-free, the broth cooks down so every strand soaks up flavor.

Low-fat potato, leek, mushroom, and spinach soup pureed smooth with no cream. A vibrant green, flavor-packed bowl ready in 45 minutes from pantry basics.

While Schwartz describes the name for this Israeli dish as slightly pretentious, he notes that it won a cooking competition and found its way onto the menus of five star hotels. He recommends serving it over a bed or bulgur pilaf.

Sweet and sour apples, crunchy and savory celeries, nutty and salty peanuts, and a lemon-dijon dressing make a delicious, light yet refreshing salad.

Light plum or apricot tea cake made with egg whites, orange juice, and fructose instead of butter and sugar. A lower-fat fruit loaf that stays moist for days.

This simple fruit salad works at the start of the meal or as a dessert. The fruit is lightly glazed with either a simple syrup or agave syrup. Ginger, a bit of lemon, and some savory thyme which pairs amazingly with summer fruits accents the tartness of the berries and the sweetness of the stone fruit.

Chicken Provencal braised with marjoram and topped with sauteed eggplant, cherry tomatoes, and ripe olives. A rustic French one-skillet dinner full of Mediterranean flavor.

Flaky Asian pear and lychee strudel with phyllo dough, crystallized ginger, toasted coconut, walnuts, and Chinese five spice. A showstopping fusion dessert dusted with powdered sugar.

Homemade British pork sausages with nutmeg, cloves, mace, and thyme from Keith Floyd's cookbook. Stuff into casings or coat in breadcrumbs for a proper banger from scratch.

Swiss gingerbread from Lucerne with pear purée, walnuts, whole wheat flour and a warming mix of star anise, cloves, cinnamon and ginger. Traditional Lebkuchen-style holiday bake.

Chinese vegetable soup with shiitake mushrooms, napa cabbage, soba noodles, and a ginger-tamari broth. A low-fat, brothy noodle bowl with savory mushroom depth.

Melrose plates: chicken and pasta salad with mandarin oranges, water chestnuts and a honey-mustard poppy seed yogurt dressing. A lighter chicken-pasta luncheon salad served on lettuce.

Pepper-crusted top round steak seared in a hot skillet and finished with a red wine, cognac, and cream pan sauce. Bistro-style steak dinner on the table in 30 minutes.