February 2010

Serve as a vegetarian main course or as a side dish with steamed fish or roasted chicken. If you don't have any leftover brown rice on hand, use a package of frozen cooked brown rice as a shortcut.

This scrumptious dessert serves up sweet, seasonal fruit in filling, foolproof portions. And whole-grain oats top it off with a fluffy cobbler cap that's lusciously lowfat.

Cauliflower replaces potatoes as the secret Phase 1 ingredient in this South Beach Diet classic.

Serve with pita wedges, in pita pockets, or as part of a mezze platter.

Mirin is a sweet rice wine often used in Japanese cooking. If you don’t have any on hand, substitute 1 tablespoon honey for the mirin instead.

The buttermilk, cream, and cheddar are nostalgic, while the addition of caramelized shallots and sage add a modern touch.

Vegetables from the supermarket salad bar get an Asian spin. Start with purchased wonton soup, and serve a mixed green salad with ginger vinaigrette alongside the rice. Sliced pineapple with coconut sorbet is the perfect finish. Look for hoisin at Asian markets and in the Asian foods section of most supermarkets.