Here is a veggie-filled pie enriched with bits of cheddar cheese and topped with a flaky crust. And it's pretty enough for a fancy brunch or dinner with friends.

Toasting brings out the flavor of many ingredients, especially nuts and grains. This pilaf calls for whole grains of buckwheat (called groats) that have been preroasted. Sold in most supermarkets as 'kasha' it comes in both whole-grain and cracked versions.

When you need to put a meal on the table that can feed a crowd, this recipe saves time with no-boil lasagna noodles, jar tomato sauce, and frozen spinach'all without compromising on flavor.