Herbs & Spices

Falafel makes a great appetizer when paired with hummus for dipping. For a quick meal, serve atop a salad or inside pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes, and a drizzle of tahini.

This spicy upscale popcorn combines two international ingredients: ground French peppers and Spanish almonds.

Porcini and crimini mushrooms give this hearty soup its deep, almost meaty flavor. Cottage cheese holds the cheesy, parsley-flecked dumplings together.

This homemade broth has a mildly sweet flavor. Any leftover broth can be frozen for up to three months.

Ribollita is a classic Tuscan soup that's made up of vegetable soup mixed with pieces of rustic bread. This version is packed with veggies—white beans, kale, chard, potatoes, tomatoes—and served with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.

There's something about salty-sweet treats that we find irresistible (and we know we're not alone). Here, as the dates bake they get deliciously sweet and caramely. And the salty part? That comes from the crispy pancetta-and the warm cheese.

Two Italian cheeses (Fontina and Parmesan) lend an Italian flair to these tiny sandwiches. Brushing the bread with sage-infused butter and topping each sandwich with a sage leaf adds flavor—and visual appeal.

A combination of kale, chard, spinach, dill, and fennel fronds gives this soup a fresh flavor. Fiber-rich barley adds a hearty note.

Light and fresh, this pasta dish is brightened with a squeeze of lemon juice. A V-slicer is the ideal tool for thinly slicing the fennel. For an even healthier option, try using whole wheat pasta.

Bison (a.k.a. buffalo) is available at some natural foods stores, specialty foods stores, and farmers' markets.

Be sure to pick up a few extra bottles of hard apple cider to serve along with the stew.

If you don't have time to drain regular yogurt, buy thick, Greek-style yogurt, available at many supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.

Potatoes are finely cut into small cubes, then cooked risotto-style.

Position racks in the top third and the bottom third of the oven so that the chicken and the carrots can roast together.

Here's a new take on breakfast.

The lamb needs to marinate overnight, so be sure to begin one day ahead.

Aromatic caraway seeds lend a delicate nutty flavor to the chicken and balance nicely with a side of tart, sweet shredded cabbage.