eating well

I've been known to serve bread pudding at Easter for dessert, but this year, I found myself torn between a sweet rendition with mangoes and chai spice, and a savory version with asparagus and Camembert cheese — so I'm making both! Because plain white breads such as challah, brioche, or pullman loaves have a neutral flavor, they work well as the filling either when baking bread pudding for dessert or as a side dish. Regardless of whether you go for the sweet or the salty, make the flavors current by maximizing ingredients in store now. Use fruits like mango or vegetables such as asparagus. For both recipes, read on.

Although I love roasting a whole chicken at home, sometimes there simply isn't time. When that's the case, I head to my local supermarket and pick up cooked chicken. If I'm serving friends, I'll purchase an entire rotisserie chicken, but if cooking for just myself, I simply buy one breast. The things you can do with a store-bought chicken are endless. This recipe uses the chicken to make a quick salad that's paired with toasty garlic bread. It's a great base recipe that can be added to and modified. Toss in vegetables, cheese, or nuts to make it more complex.

Get the basic technique after the break.

Get your Monday off to the right start by making a fast and simple chicken roast that'll also be a versatile add-in for meals later in the week. Buy twice the whole chicken needed for yesterday's meal and pan-roast the remaining chicken in a skillet until juicy and aromatic. Serve it alongside a simple salad and crusty baguette for a rustic meal. You can easily incorporate any of the leftover roast chicken on top of a Spring salad, in a hero sandwich for lunch, or a cheesy baked casserole. For the recipe, read on.

If you're looking for a way to introduce your children to the wonderful world of fish, I highly recommend starting with this simple recipe. It takes a mild, firm white fish, such as cod, and coats it in a delectable topping of sautéed onions, wheat bread, and cheese. It's sort of like a fish gratin and is lightly seasoned with garlic powder and paprika. The resulting dish is far from "fishy" — instead it's succulent and delicious. Serve with a green salad, buttered pasta, or roasted veggies. Get the recipe and read more

When I hear the words "stir-fry," I normally think of a protein/vegetable dish that's served over rice. However, this recipe demonstrates that a stir-fry can also incorporate noodles. Chopped red pepper, snappy edamame, and strips of flank steak are flash-cooked in a large pan. A hoisin, chili, and garlic sauce seasons the dish, while the last-minute addition of minced ginger and chopped cilantro provides an aromatic freshness. Check out this uncomplicated but exciting recipe after the break.

Don't have the patience for all that froufrou Valentine's Day stuff? Then keep the tail-end of your weekend low-key with a slow cooker supper that pays an ever-so-subtle homage to the Lunar New Year.

Start with a generous cut of budget-friendly pork shoulder and some Winter root vegetables, and simmer it for several hours in a stock spiced with cinnamon, anise, ginger, and garlic. Serve the comforting end product over noodles or rice when you read more.

Vegetarians and omnivores unite and make today a meat-free Monday by serving a reassuringly creamy risotto for dinner. Traditional risotto is made with arborio rice, but if you're looking to take it up a nutritional notch, prepare the dish using leftover barley, a chewy cereal grain high in fiber and antioxidants but low in fat. Parmesan cheese and wild mushrooms don't just add in meatiness and substance — they also impart strong umami flavors. See how the quick dish comes together and read more.

Chicken, when served with a saucy side of leeks and mushrooms, makes for a smooth-sailing weeknight supper. Use healthy skinless chicken thighs from last night's meal as the star of the dish, simmering and serving it in a white wine sauce.

Although white wine, mushrooms, and leeks are a standard flavor combination, change things up by switching out button mushrooms for Asian shiitakes and stirring in anise-tinged tarragon at the end. Make this fast and easy dinner for two tonight when you read more.

The addition of pork, whether it's bacon, sausage, or ham, is an instant flavor boost to all sorts of dishes. In this recipe, chorizo acts as a fatty, spicy seasoning for flaky white fish. It gives the cod a rich smokiness that's completely satisfying without being overly indulgent. Fresh tomatoes, chopped thyme, and canned white beans are the supporting ingredients that make this a healthful and savory meal. To look at the uncomplicated procedure, read more

With its finely chopped vegetables, ground beef, and creamy sauce, this dish is great for kids who are picky eaters. The meat, Worcestershire, and sour cream sauce mask the mushrooms, carrots, and onion.

Thanks to the familiar and fun elbow-shaped pasta, no one will notice that it's actually whole wheat. It's a wholesome, nourishing one pot meal that's sure to please parents and children alike, so get the recipe and read more