This fast, simple appetizer complements pastas, soups, and salads. You can grate the cheese for the crostini in advance.
Preheat broiler.
Place bread on a baking sheet. Broil 1 minute or until lightly browned. Rub 1 side of each bread slice with cut half of garlic. Discard garlic. Sprinkle cheese evenly over bread. Broil 1 minute or until cheese melts. Divide prosciutto evenly over bread. Sprinkle evenly with pepper.
Cooking Light JANUARY 2006
Make vinaigrette, toast nuts, and prepare greens up to two days in advance. Substitute walnut or olive oil if hazelnut oil isn't available. To reduce prep time, you can use bagged Italian blend greens.
Photo by: Photo: Jan Smith
To prepare vinaigrette, combine juice and cranberries in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes or until most of liquid evaporates. Remove from heat; stir in vinegar, shallots, and garlic. Drizzle oil into pan, stirring with a whisk until blended. Stir in salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cool vinaigrette to room temperature.
Preheat oven to 350°.
To prepare salad, combine walnuts and next 5 ingredients (through 1/8 teaspoon pepper); toss well. Spread on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 5 minutes or until toasted.
Combine radicchio and remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add vinaigrette and walnuts; toss well.
Cooking Light JANUARY 2006
This easy orange salad is a great way to wake up winter meals. Bright orange slices top a bed of lettuces, spinach, red onion, and feta cheese and are drizzled with a simple homemade vinaigrette.
To prepare vinaigrette, combine first 7 ingredients in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Set aside.
To prepare salad, combine orange sections, romaine, red leaf lettuce, and spinach in a large bowl. Add onion and cheese. Pour vinaigrette over salad mixture; toss gently to coat.
Cooking Light JANUARY 2006
Prepare the squash up to three days in advance. Cook the pasta on-site, and assemble the dish to bake.
Photo by: Photo: Jan Smith
Preheat oven to 375°.
To prepare squash, drizzle 1 tablespoon oil in bottom of a roasting pan. Place squash, cut sides down, and shallots in pan. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 45 minutes or until tender. Cool. Scoop pulp from squash; discard peels. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pulp. Place remaining 2 tablespoons oil, remaining pulp, shallots, and next 7 ingredients (through garlic) in a food processor; process until smooth.
Reduce oven temperature to 350°.
To prepare pasta, cook pasta in boiling water 7 minutes or until almost tender. Drain. Combine reserved 1 1/2 cups pulp, pureed mixture, pasta, and 1/3 cup cheese in a large bowl; stir gently. Spoon mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray; cover with foil.
Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup cheese. Bake 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
Cooking Light JANUARY 2006
Assemble and freeze the parfaits up to a day ahead; to serve, dollop with whipped topping and sprinkle with cinnamon. You can place the parfait glasses in the freezer about 30 minutes before assembling to help the layers firm up quickly.
Combine ice cream and coffee granules, stirring until coffee granules dissolve. Spoon 1/4 cup ice cream mixture into each of 6 (8-ounce) parfait glasses. Drizzle each serving with 1 teaspoon brewed coffee. Repeat layers, ending with ice cream mixture. Cover and freeze until firm. Just before serving, top each parfait with 1 tablespoon whipped topping and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon.
Cooking Light JANUARY 2006
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