Meal-in-a-Bowl Mushroom Barley Soup

Cremini mushrooms give this soup a deep rich colour and flavour. All that's missing is some freshly baked bread and you have a cosy family meal for a cold winter night. The vegetarian variation is also delicious.

Turkey Bolognese Sauce

This recipe makes enough for five servings of sauce. We recommend cooking 3 oz (90 g) of spaghetti for each serving. While she's at it, Melissa can boil and freeze (separately) enough pasta for the Spaghetti Frittata and the leftover sauce. If you eat dairy foods, unlike Melissa, you can sprinkle the pasta and sauce with Parmesan cheese.

Chicken and Vegetable Fajitas

An average serving of fajitas can pack as many as 900 calories and 40 grams of fat. This good-for-you version from our bigger, bolder, brighter October 2004 issue's "Family Favourites Get Healthy" story increases the vegetables and reduces the saturated fats without sacrificing flavour. Add some salsa when rolling up the fajitas, if you like.

Classic Pea Soup with Ham

This flavourful, chunky yet smooth soup simmers away when you're relaxing around the house. If you cook a bone-in ham, save the bone for this soup instead of the smoked hock.

Beef and Broccoli Fried Rice

Using ground beef instead of stir-fry beef keeps the cost down. Day-old rice works best, so if you can, cook it in advance. Cost: $3.25/serving

Beef Milanese With Fennel Slaw

Spices, rather than salt, flavour the crispy crust on these tender beef cutlets. Uncooked thinly sliced beef is listed as sandwich-cut or fast-fry steaks. Use a mandoline or the slicing attachment of your food processor to cut the fennel and red onion quickly.

Hanoi-Style Vermicelli Noodles with Fish

Vegetable Pho

This is a meatless version of the popular Vietnamese pho, a hearty beef-based noodle dish. To add meat, substitute paper-thin slices of top sirloin for the tofu. Serve with an assortment of fresh garnishes such as cilantro, sliced green onions, sliced chilies, bean sprouts and lime wedges.

Beef & Farro Bowls

Lamb Tagine with Artichokes and Mint

In Morocco, tagines, or stews, are cooked in a special pottery dish called a tagine slaoui, which has a conical lid that helps capture the steam to produce moist stews in thick sauces. You can use a large Dutch oven or saucepan for similar results. Serve this stew with couscous or warmed flatbreads.