Fragrant Rice Pilaf

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon crumbled saffron threads
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup diced (1/4 inch) onion
• 2 tablespoons finely minced garlic
• 4 carrots, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
• 3 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup dried cherries or cranberries

1. Combine the cumin, saffron and salt. Set aside.

2. Heat the butter and oil in a pot over low heat. Add the onion and wilt, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add garlic and carrots; cook 5 minutes more, sprinkling with the spice mixture.

3. Add the rice and cook for 1 minute, stirring to mix well. Add the broth and cherries. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, covered, until all the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork. Serve hot.

Makes 8 servings.

Nutritional Information Per serving: 240 calories, 44g carbohydrate, 5g protein, 4g fat, 5mg cholesterol

From Parade via Epicurious

Steamed Green Beans with Tomato-Garlic Vinaigrette

• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed and minced
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup seeded chopped tomato
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 1 pound green beans, trimmed

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl; slowly add oil, whisking to combine. Stir in tomato and thyme; let stand 10 minutes.

2. Steam beans, covered, 7 minutes or until crisp-tender. Cut into 2-inch pieces; add to tomato mixture, tossing gently to coat.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 3/4 cup) Nutritional Information

CALORIES 73(44% from fat); FAT 3.6g (sat 0.5g,mono 2.5g,poly 0.5g); IRON 1.4mg; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 48mg; CARBOHYDRATE 9.8g; SODIUM 162mg; PROTEIN 2.4g; FIBER 4.2g

from Cooking Light, JULY 2008, via MyRecipes

Curried Chicken Salad

• chicken breast meat, shredded
• 1/4 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• thinly sliced scallions or red onion
• sliced almonds, lightly toasted
• 1/2 small apple, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• raisins
• farmhouse chutney
• salt and pepper
• lettuce

Stir together yogurt, lemon juice, curry powder. Combine with remaining ingredients. Serve over lettuce.

Improvised from Martha Stewart and Sunset. Variations: green grapes for apples, apricots for raisins

Sesame Green Beans

• 2 pounds green beans, stemmed
• 3 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients until well blended. Add the green beans and toss to combine well. Season to taste with freshly ground pepper.

Yield: 8 servings

Nutritional Information: CALORIES 99(1% from fat); FAT 7g (sat 1g); CHOLESTEROL 0mg; CALCIUM 52mg; CARBOHYDRATE 9g; SODIUM 74mg; PROTEIN 3mg; FIBER 4g; IRON 1mg

from Real Simple

Asian-style Flank Steak

• 1/2 cup dry Sherry
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon Asian sesame oil
• 1 (1 1/2- to 1 3/4-pound) flank steak

Whisk first 6 ingredients in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Add steak; turn to coat. Let marinate at room temperature 2 hours, turning occasionally.

Preheat broiler. Transfer steak to broiler pan. Drain marinade from dish into medium saucepan; boil 3 minutes. Broil steak until cooked to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Using tongs, transfer steaks to platter; let stand 5 minutes. Cut crosswise into thin slices and serve, passing cooked marinade as sauce.

Servings: Makes 4 to 6 servings

from Bon Appetit

Beef, Orange, and Gorgonzola Sandwiches

• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoons extravirgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup fresh orange sections (about 2 oranges)
• 4 (2-ounce) Italian or French rolls
• 2 cups thinly sliced Basic Grilled Flank Steak (about 8 ounces)
• 1 cup bagged prewashed baby spinach
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) crumbled Gorgonzola or other blue cheese

Combine first 5 ingredients, stirring with a whisk.

Pat orange sections dry with a paper towel. Slice each roll in half. Layer bottom of each roll with 1/2 cup Basic Grilled Flank Steak, 1/4 cup baby spinach, 1 tablespoon cheese, and 1/4 cup orange sections. Drizzle each serving with about 2 teaspoons vinaigrette; top with top halves of rolls. Wrap in aluminum foil or wax paper; chill.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 sandwich)

Nutritional Information: CALORIES 318(29% from fat); FAT 10.2g (sat 4.6g,mono 3.7g,poly 0.5g); IRON 3.5mg; CHOLESTEROL 36mg; CALCIUM 148mg; CARBOHYDRATE 34.7g; SODIUM 533mg; PROTEIN 21.6g; FIBER 2.4g

from Cooking Light

Chocolate Lime Pie

• 200 g digestive biscuits
• 1 1/2 tbs cocoa powder
• 120 g unsalted butter
• 395 g canned sweetened condensed milk
• zest and juice of 4 limes
• 500 ml thickened cream
• good quality dark chocolate, grated, to serve