Vegetarian

Accompanied by a warm loaf of French bread, this lovely and simple salad makes an elegant first course or a light lunch.

Paellas were first cooked many centuries ago in the farmlands of Spain, over an open fire. They are still prepared this way, but also cook well on a charcoal or gas grill.

This classic Italian pasta and bean dish is irresistibly good and cheap! Kids especially love it.

This Middle Eastern eggplant dish is a favorite worldwide. Although the eggplant can be roasted in the oven, nothing creates its distinctive smoky flavor like a flame grill.

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.

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.

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.