Vegetarian

Toasted baguette slices topped with purchased pesto or caponata make a quick starter; a salad of mixed greens and sliced red onions is perfect alongside the pasta. Offer lemon mousse for a refreshing finale.

Garnish this thick, velvety soup with an extra dollop of sour cream and pinch of chopped fresh thyme, if you like.

Haitian households celebrate their country’s Independence Day with bowls of this comforting soup. The national holiday falls on New Year’s Day, when Haitians walk from house to house to pay friends and family the first visits of the New Year. Although this is a vegetarian version, add small cubes of browned beef stew meat along with the pumpkin, if you like. Simply remove and then return them to the pot just as you do the hot peppers. This recipe was inspired by Norzina, a lumber and charcoal vendor and microcredit client of Fonkoze, Whole Planet Foundation’s implementing partner in Haiti.

Rajas (strips) of crisp corn tortillas and sweet mini bell peppers make a colorful garnish.

This classic Greek bean soup is thick and creamy, though it contains no cream or other dairy products. The beans cook into a smooth, pleasing mixture. Use a fruity olive oil to saute the aromatic root vegetables to start the cooking process, then add white beans that have soaked overnight.

There’s enough filling to make 8 rolls. If you don’t need that many for dinner, pop a few in the freezer or wrap them in parchment paper (instead of foil) and tote them to work. A quick pop in the microwave and lunch is hot. So, before you head for the couch, assemble, roll, and wrap the burritos.

Sunday supper becomes doubly satisfying when your favorite sports team is winning and you’re passing bowls of hearty chili. If chili doesn’t seem to be a dish you can reconcile with your resolution to slim down, rest assured that this version is healthy (and happens to be thrifty too). It’s a vegetarian bowl with a spicy kick, so it will stand up to the meatiest opponents. Begin with dried beans, which need an overnight soak to soften. Saute onions with poblano and jalapeno peppers, adding the spices to the oil to release their aromas.

Toss these easy homemade croutons in salads, sprinkle over soups and stews or fold into hot scrambled eggs and omelets.