Lindsey Nair

Features staff writer Lindsey writes about food, restaurants and recipes.

Recent columns

• How fresh is that food in your fridge? Depends.
• Summer of growth
• Beef, dissected
• Parents, think outside the (lunch)box

Recipes

• Use Your Noodle Salad
• Baked Crispy Chicken Fingers

• Recipe archive

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Minestrone Casserole

3 medium carrots, sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

1 cup water

2 tsp. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 can (15 oz.) garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (6 oz.) salt-free tomato paste

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 1/2 cups frozen cut green beans, thawed

1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1. In a 3- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients except green beans, macaroni and cheese.

2. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

3. About 20 minutes before serving, stir in green beans and macaroni. Increase heat setting to high and cover. Cook about 20 minutes, or until beans and pasta are tender. Sprinkle with cheese before serving.

Noodles and Peanut Sauce Salad Bowl

8 oz. uncooked whole wheat linguine, broken in half

2 cups fresh broccoli florets

1 cup julienne- cut carrots

1 medium bell pepper, cut into bite-size pieces

2 Tbsp. water

2 tsp. canola oil

1/4 cup peanut butter

2 Tbsp. rice vinegar or white vinegar

2 Tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp. ground cayenne pepper

3 medium green onions, chopped

3 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

1. Cook linguine as directed on package, adding broccoli, carrots and bell pepper during last minute of cooking. Drain vegetables and pasta. Rinse with cold water until pasta and vegetables are cool. Drain.

2. In a small bowl, gradually beat water and oil into peanut butter with a wire whisk until smooth. Beat in vinegar, soy sauce, ginger and ground red pepper.

3. In a large serving bowl, stir together pasta mixture, peanut sauce, onions and cilantro until well mixed.

Source: Betty Crocker Cookbook for Women