125 lacto recipes

Pesto biscuits with green basil flecks and fluffy buttermilk crumb, baked from a quick pantry-friendly recipe using powdered milk. A herbal twist on the classic American biscuit.

Make-ahead tofu noodle casserole in a creamy Parmesan poppy seed sauce with pimientos. Assemble the night before, bake the next day. Retro comfort food with a vegetarian twist.

Indian yogurt kabob sauce with cumin, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and garlic-ginger paste. A tangy, spiced marinade for grilling meat, fish, or vegetables.

Vegetarian spinach and brown rice casserole with cheddar cheese, eggs, and sunflower seeds. An ovo-lacto friendly bake with nutmeg, soy sauce, and a crunchy seed topping.

One-bowl black bean casserole with cornmeal, sweet corn, tomatoes, and mild green chiles baked until set. Lacto-vegetarian, low-fat, and simple enough for a busy weeknight.

A lighter vegetarian lasagna with homemade veggie-red wine tomato sauce, ricotta, fresh spinach, and nonfat mozzarella. Ovo-lacto friendly and packed with vegetables in every layer.

Lacto-vegetarian sweet potato soup with carrots, celery, peas, and a triple-herb blend of thyme, basil, and tarragon. Finished with nonfat sour cream for a lighter, meatless comfort bowl.

Oven-baked French toast made with blended cottage cheese, skim milk, and egg whites on whole wheat bread. A lighter, protein-packed brunch that skips the frying pan entirely.

I wanted to share a recipe which I have been making this winter for my family. It is a good cold weather dish. It makes enough for a crowd my family (2 adults and 3 teens) only eat about half. This can be made ahead and chilled until ready to use.

Fat-free apple oat muffins using pureed prunes as a fat substitute, egg whites instead of whole eggs, and maple syrup for sweetness. Just 90 calories each.

Wheat berry veggie melt with steamed butternut squash, carrots, and yellow squash tossed with soy sauce and broiled under melted mozzarella. A hearty vegetarian casserole.

Low-fat apple oat muffins made with prune puree instead of butter, maple syrup, and egg whites. Moist, tender, and packed with oats and chopped apples.

Peaches and cream gelatin mold with fresh peaches, non-fat yogurt, and vanilla-orange extract. A light, sugar-free molded dessert with real fruit.

Creamy broccoli cheddar soup made with skim milk and reduced-fat cheese for a lighter take on a steakhouse classic. Hot soup melts the cheese in the bowl. Ready in 25 minutes.

Chili cheese cubes are a vegetarian Tex-Mex appetizer of baked egg, Monterey Jack, sharp cheddar, and green chiles cut into bite-sized squares. Equally good hot or cold.

Frozen fruit yogurt dessert built from raspberry puree, low-fat yogurt, apple juice concentrate, lemon, and beaten egg whites for lift. Lighter than ice cream, naturally sweetened, and endlessly variable.