This light lunch menu features more fruits and vegetables than most recipe collections. Pick and choose from a variety of sweet and savory salads, and a trio of delectable soups. There is no traditional heavy pastry or dessert included in these light recipes, but plenty of sweet endings.
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Mar MarIf you’re short on time and need a sophisticated appetizer, this herbed white bean puree recipe is wonderful. It takes less than five minutes to prepare and the herbes de Provence accent the silky white beans with understated elegance.
Steve WoodsThe brilliance of making your own marinated olives is that you alone customize the flavor of the dish. Take out an ingredient here and add one there… you have your own special blend! This recipe can use black or green olives – or both.
Simon AughtonThis French cabbage soup recipe makes the ideal farmhouse soup: easy in preparation, rustic in presentation, and exquisitely delicious in taste. The flavors of the vegetables meld together seamlessly with only a hint of smoky salted bacon, lemony thyme, and nutty Gruyere cheese. Serve this with good bread and a bottle of wine for a hearty meal.
Arvind GroverThis cream of roasted tomato soup recipe is lovely with cheese and a fresh baguette. The slightly smokey flavor of the roasted tomatoes can be accentuated to perfection with a petite garnish of creme fraiche and a sprinkle of your favorite chopped, fresh herbs. Serve the roasted tomato soup warm for a soup course or chilled in small cups for a savory appetizer.
Stuart SpivackThis nourishing carrot soup recipe is an easy and elegant way to cut costs at dinnertime. Carrots are inexpensive and available year-round, yet they’re tasty and packed with vitamin A, potassium, lutein, and fiber. This pureed soup is made with water, not broth or cream, so it’s both low fat and vegan – a perfect offering for a variety of dinner guests.
Flickr user sporkistThis roasted potato salad recipe is an easy, year-round dish made with readily available, affordable ingredients. Serve the herb roasted potato salad hot and fresh from the oven, or chill it in the refrigerator for a day and serve the salad cold as a healthy side dish.
SXCCool and fresh, this cucumber mint salad recipe can be whipped up in a short time, with very little preparation. It makes a healthy, refreshing addition to casual meals and packages nicely for picnics. The European method of salting the cucumbers before tossing them into the salad can be skipped if you prefer an American-style, crisp cucumber salad.
Lauren WeinholdWhen the occasion calls for something refreshing, make this watermelon raspberry salad recipe. It makes a wonderful addition to brunch and picnic menus, and is so very easy to prepare. Feel free to substitute any combination of fresh berries for the raspberries.
Robin ZebrowskiThis blueberry sorbet recipe uses slightly less sugar than most other versions. The resultant flavor is one of nearly intoxicating blueberry flavor. Fresh berries can be found throughout most of the year in produce sections. For the strongest fresh-picked flavor, make this sorbet in the summer months.
Flickr user tsnoniFor a cookie that matches any menu, try this chocolate-dipped meringues recipe. These delightful, little cookies have an airy, crisp texture that melts in your mouth. Dipping them in dark chocolate is both attractive and tasty; the effect is perfectly elegant for dinner guests.
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