Aside from the endive, cilantro, radishes, and feta, the list of ingredients below is a rough sketch. I’ve been known to substitute fennel for radicchio, and occasionally I add a few nuggets of Parmigiano Reggiano, some meaty flakes of smoked trout, or even just a few canned chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and dried. The key, in any case, is the quality of the ingredients. For salads like this one, I like a Hass avocado that’s on the firm side of ripe: not hard, but solid, with just a hint of give—the potential for softness, you could say. I buy my endive on the small-to-medium size—no larger than 3 ounces each—with no bruises, brown spots, or other blemishes, and I look for tight, compact heads of radicchio, each about the size of a large man’s fist, with smooth, shiny leaves. I serve this salad on its own, as the center of the meal, with a hunk of crusty bread or a few roasted sweet potato “fries” on the side.

serves 1
You might need to buy:
  • vanilla
  • margarine
  • nuts
  • water
  • sugar
  • salt
  • baking soda

Everybody LOVES this. Labor intensive. I tend to frost it afterwards with regular buttercream frosting.

You might need to buy:
  • salt
  • flour
  • vanilla extract
  • sugar
  • milk
  • large egg
  • active dry yeast

Hot and crusty, most Americans call these popovers, but at our house, it’s Yorkshire Pudding. Serve with roast beef and gravy – yum.

ready in about an hour and 5 minutes
You might need to buy:
  • eggs
  • flour
  • milk
  • oil
serves 2
You might need to buy:
  • long-grain brown rice
  • butter
  • chicken stock
  • grated Parmesan
  • Parsley for garnish
serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • nonfat dry milk powder
  • sugar
  • cocoa unsweetened
  • vanilla
  • trays ice cubes
  • corn oil plus a 5-second squirt of non-stick spray for emulsification purposes
ready in about 50 minutes; serves 3
You might need to buy:
  • hoisin sauce
  • baking soda
  • baking powder
  • cornstarch
  • flour
  • sesame oil
  • cornstarch
  • toasted sesame seeds

This recipe is packed with brain boosters.

Per serving: 117 calories, 2g protein, 6.4g fat (0.5g saturated), 3g fiber, 13.6g carbohydrates, 67mg sodium.

serves 6
You might need to buy:
  • Tbs. rice vinegar
  • honey
  • Tbs. balsamic vinegar
  • Non-Fat Curry Dressing
  • chopped pecans
  • thickly sliced strawberries
  • curry powder
  • tsps. Dijon mustard
  • Salt and pepper to taste
You might need to buy:
  • ground mustard
  • white balsamic vinegar
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • salt
  • ground black pepper

When these come out right, they are airy, tender, and wholesome. When they come out wrong (rising is a tricky business), they are still very enjoyable, especially with preserves. The dough is very sticky and hard to handle, so it requires a stint in the fridge. Makes 12 biscuits, 128 cal each

You might need to buy:
  • baking powder
  • sugar
  • unbleached all-purpose flour
  • whole wheat flour
  • salt
  • vegetable shortening
  • soy or nut milk