Vegan

Frozen chopped spinach dresses up plain brown rice with little extra effort.

When you’re serving cooked brown rice as a side dish or as a bed of grain for beans or vegetables, here’s a way to give it a little extra flavor.

This basic macaroni and cheese is on the rich side (it just doesn’t work with reduced-fat cheese), but it is so comforting. Even if you don’t have kids, you can make this when you’re in the mood for “nursery food.”

This simply flavored noodle dish is good served with Asian-style tofu dishes. See the menu suggested on page 135 with Sweet and Savory Sautéed or Baked Tofu as well as the one given here. If you can’t find Asian noodles, substitute linguine.

This chapter ends with two child-friendly recipes, hence the smaller portions. If you think your kids would share some with their parents, you can increase the proportions of the recipes.

This nearly-instant dish is fun to eat with chopsticks. In China and Japan, long noodles in broth are “slurped” (yes, this is considered proper table manners); then, the broth is eaten with a spoon. Look for Japanese-style frozen vegetables where other frozen vegetable medleys are shelved in well-stocked supermarkets.

Gnocchi are hearty dumplings made with potato flour and semolina. You’ll find them in the frozen foods section of most any supermarket, shelved near ravioli and other frozen pastas. Have the spinach or chard washed and chopped before starting so this dish can come together quickly.

This quick and colorful pasta dish will give you a summery feeling any time of year.

Pasta isn’t customarily seasoned with curry, but I’ve long enjoyed this combination.

Here’s another great way to embellish a good prepared pasta sauce.

I like to use a fairly flat noodle, such as farfalle, with mushroom sauces. Do try to use one of the varieties of brown mushrooms suggested for a full-bodied flavor.

Here’s a simple dish that borders on the sublime. In my family, we are all fans of broccoli, so this combination never fails to please. Serve with Mixed Greens with Oranges and Almonds (page 52).

Start with a well-flavored prepared pasta sauce, perhaps one made with chunky vegetables, mushrooms, or bell peppers. With the addition of roasted peppers and dried tomatoes, a special pasta meal can be yours in a flash.

Salsa is an easy way to dress up pasta, resulting in an offbeat, festive dish.

The secret ingredient in this smooth sauce is silken tofu. Blended silken tofu makes a great base for sauces that seem creamy, but are actually pure soy goodness. Look for it in your supermarket’s produce section (as well as in natural foods stores). Complete this meal with some fresh bread and a bountiful tossed salad. Or serve it with any of the mixed greens salads on pages 50 to 53.

A lovely cold dish to be enjoyed in late summer, this is a great vehicle for the season’s ripe tomatoes. This is delicious with Creamy Pinto Bean Puree (page 16) for a satisfying summer meal.

Broccoli is one of the most harmonious additions to pasta salad. Try this in the menu with Pizza Margherita (page 154).

Potatoes and tomatoes in a curry-flavored yogurt make a luscious summertime treat.

Going on a picnic? Don’t leave home without this salad, which pares potato salad down to its marvelous essence. This is also excellent with grilled or broiled soyfoods or seitan, as in the menu accompanying Baked Barbecue Tofu and Peppers (page 141).

This salad makes an earthy companion to light pasta dishes. Look for packages of fresh mixed wild mushrooms in the produce section of well-stocked supermarkets. They contain a melange of three or four varieties, which may include cremini, shiitake, oyster, or others.