Recipes

This soup not only uses freshly grated cheese but the rind, as well. The rinds, similar to a vegetarian soupbone, are perfectly safe to eat and add flavor without the extra expense of using freshly grated cheese; they are available at many natural foods stores.

This is a great summer dish, when tomatoes and basil are at their ripest.

Adapted from Crème de Colorado (Junior League of Denver, Inc.). Excellent hot and terrific cold, this is a treat for al fresco dining on your patio or in the mountains.

Prep time: overnight marinating, plus 25 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes

This nutritious combination will satisfy without weighing you down. Rosemary, a Mediterranean native whose Latin name means "dew of the sea," is perfect to unite the flavors of this robust salad.

Just tossing this salad rewards you with pleasure. A kaleidoscope of flavors, from delicate to assertive and peppery to tangy, makes it a great summer lunch or light dinner.

The sweet, smoky flavor of this dish is what makes it unique. As an alternative to trout, try smoked salmon or crab. For something really different, try seasonal wild mushrooms such as portabellos or creminis.

When making this recipe, my girls helped with the dipping and shaking of their favorite veggies.

This Italian classic adds a few decorative touches to give instant child appeal, and it cleverly disguises the spinach inside.