Your Dish is Sure to be the Star of the Meal (2024)

"Here's my healthy version of spaghetti with clams (spaghetti alle vongole). Whole wheat pasta provides a lot of beneficial dietary fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, and limiting the amount of pasta and increasing the vegetables means the dish not only tastes great, but looks great too. With fresh spinach and the unexpected crunch and peppery flavor of rad­ishes, this isn't your run-of-the-mill pasta with clam sauce." — Curtis StoneRecipe: Angel Hair Pasta with Clams, Radishes, and Spinach

This is the kind of recipe where you can swing by the grocery store on your way home from work, pick up a few bits, and have a great meal on the table within 10 minutes of arriving in your kitchen. It's also easy to double the recipe for a larger crowd.Recipe: Jamie Oliver's Hardly-Any-Prep Shrimp Stir-Fry

Simple enough to prepare for a large crowd, this classic pasta dish from the Puglia region of Italy is one of Mario's favorites. Feel free to sub out the sausage with chopped salami, or omit the meat altogether and use a basic tomato sauce. You can also substitute any cruciferous or leafy vegetable for the broccoli.Recipe: Mario Batali's Orecchiette with Sweet Sausage and BroccoliRelated: Comfort Food Powerhouse: Perfect Pasta Casseroles

This crumbing technique is so versatile — you can cook pork or even cod in exactly the same way. As there is butter in the crumb mixture, you can grill, fry, roast, or bake the meat dry in the oven and it will go lovely and golden.Recipe: Jamie Oliver's Crunchy Garlic Chicken

The classic flavors of the Caprese salad — fresh basil, olive oil, tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella cheese — are wedged between rustic bread and grilled in a skillet.Recipe: José Andrés' Caprese Sandwich

Ratatouille seems like a lot of preparation, but it doesn't have to be. Don't worry too much about how you cut up the vegetables — you can do small pieces or big chunks, whichever you prefer. Make a double batch; you'll find it tastes even better the next day. Serve over pasta or as a flavorful condiment on sandwiches.Recipe: Curtis Stone's Provençal RatatouilleRelated: Easy French Recipes Every Cook Should Know

Savor the flavors of summer year-round with this light salad from Iron Chef Bobby Flay. Cherry tomatoes, avocado, and arugula shine when topped with a homemade vinaigrette of lime juice, honey, and rice vinegar. This salad is a natural complement to indoor grilling, so rain or cold weather is no excuse.Recipe: Avocado Salad With Tomatoes and Lime

Cat's Note: If you want a traditionally cooked cheesesteak, wrap the rib eye in plastic wrap and put it in the freezer for 30 minutes. Remove the steak from the freezer and cut it into very thin slices. Sauté the slices in olive oil with oregano, salt, and pepper.Recipe: Cat Cora Sunday Cheese Steak RecipeRelated: Fantastic Philly Cheese Steaks

This moist and delicious Bundt cake has an almost pudding-meets-a-cloud-in-heaven texture, thanks to the chestnut flour and the shredded raw apple.Recipe: Mario Batali's Chestnut-Apple Ciambella