discovered that socca, a chickpea-based flatbread, makes a wonderful base for creamy burrata cheese. The batter can be whisked together and used right away, but it’s even better if it stands for at least 30 minutes. Give this socca recipe with burrata a try and see what you think...and taste!

When it comes to marinara sauce and pasta, the sauce is never really the part that busts your diet. Noodles are generally made with white flour and offer nothing but empty calories and simple starches. So, while the marinara sauce recipe doesn't need to stray very far from its original version, by substituting noodles with vegetables, you save the calories and carbohydrates -- to say nothing of the post-meal heaviness -- that traditionally accompanies pasta dishes. This raw zucchini pasta with leek tomato sauce recipe shows you just how easy it is to put together a deliciously unique pasta dish that is light and comforting all in one. Enjoy!

They are a mainstay at sports arenas, food courts, promenade shops and movie theaters, but they rarely get face time in the home kitchen. Soft pretzels are a festive snack that are actually not all that intimidating to make on your own. In fact, doing so can cut out the preservatives, additives and other mysterious ingredients. This homemade soft pretzel recipe uses only a handful of pantry items that you most likely already have on hand, and it gives you the option to nix sugar altogether as well as turn the result into something more full of fiber with the addition of whole-wheat flour. However imperfectly their shapes and sizes, these soft pretzels end up with a taste and texture that are failproof and undeniably delicious. Enjoy!

The beautiful and somewhat underrated cauliflower is near the end of its season. Heads of it will soon be disappearing from farmers markets and CSA boxes. So give your fresh, seasonal cauliflower a spicy Indian flair before it's gone for the year. 

Aloo means potato and gobi means cauliflower. If you're a fan of Indian food, aloo gobi---Indian cauliflower and potatoes---should be on your favorites list. Especially if you're vegan or vegetarian. The delicious vegetable dish is seasoned with curry and a hint of garam masala spice. This version is easy to make at home.

Preserved lemons are a key ingredient in Moroccan cooking. A little bit sour, a little bit salty, they add a very distinctive seasoning to your favorite North African dishes. You can easily find them in stores selling Moroccan products, but it's easy to make your own, ensuring that only the best organic lemons are used. Before all of winter's citrus has disappeared, make a batch (or several!) of these preserved lemons, to have on-hand for Moroccan cooking.

This recipe calls for frenched lamb chops, which are chops with the meat cut away from the end of the rib so that part of the bone is exposed. Frenching the chop makes it cleaner and let’s call it fancier, almost like a lamb lollipop, if you will! Your butcher can do this with the quick swipe of a knife; asking him or her to do this makes fast work of this simple-to-prepare dish. Croute simply means “crust” in French. Fancy.

Yogurt has become one of the most prominent and trendiest health foods of this generation, with major food manufacturers taking advantage of the yogurt fad. Yogurt can actually fight osteoporosis, reduce the risk of high blood pressure, help relieve gastrointestinal conditions, and even help you feel fuller. To top it off, yogurt is also deliciously simple to make. Our guide on how to make yogurt will teach you how to convert your organic milk into this creamy goodness, save money and skip the processed, over-sweetened and plastic packaged versions you get from the grocery store. 

The arrival of spring is good news for foodies who love salads, as farmers markets and natural food stores will be stocking up on fresh greens from local growers. This meyer lemon and herbed goat cheese salad recipe offers a simple and seasonal side dish or light main course. A fresh and fruity dressing adds a tasty and colorful touch to a bed of mixed greens. Herbed goat cheese blends in smoothly, while slices of meyer lemon add a zingy bite that will wake your taste buds up to the flavors of the new season!

Spring green beans lend themselves well to the delicious flavors in this sesame vegetable recipe. It's quite light and fresh, yet you get all the spicy, rich flavor of the ginger, red pepper, sesame oil, peanut butter and tahini. But with a seasonal spring flare, this dish can make the perfect light lunch or a versatile side for dinner.

One of the main reasons people forsake pizza is because of the carb-overload courtesy of the dough. You may ask, what's a pizza without the crust? Actually, it's just as good, if not better! This portobello mushroom pizza replaces flour-based dough with virtually calorie-free and carb-less portobello mushrooms. The result is a juicy and delicious mushroom pizza recipe that you won't hesitate to indulge in, "slice" after "slice." Bon Appetit!