Parmesan isn’t usually served with seafood pasta, but the cheese adds a nice richness to this linguine.

Makes 6 first-course or 4 main-course servings.

INGREDIENTS

  • 5tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 4garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1/4teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
  • 1/2cup dry white wine12ounces linguine18-ounce bottle clam juice
  • 1pound fresh lump crabmeat, picked over
  • 1/4cup finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/3cup pine nuts, toastedfreshly grated parmesan cheese

    DIRECTIONS

    Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add bell pepper; cover and cook 2 minutes. Add garlic and crushed red pepper; cover and cook 2 minutes. Increase heat to high, add wine and boil 2 minutes. Set aside.


    Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water.


    Return pasta to pot. Add clam juice, 1/2 cup cooking water and bell pepper mixture. Cook over high heat until pasta absorbs half of liquid, about 2 minutes. Add crab and toss until heated through, about 1 minute. Mix in parsley. Season to taste with pepper. Divide pasta among bowls. Sprinkle with pine nuts. Serve, passing cheese separately.

  • For the start or close of a millennium (or almost any other significant occasion), this is an opulent but fuss-free combination. Purchase the crabs from a busy fishmonger to ensure absolute freshness. Inexpensive caviar (which is often dyed) can turn the dipping sauce gray; invest a little more if you can. Champagne — not too dry #&151; is naturally the beverage of choice.

    Makes 2 servings.

    INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2cup sour cream
  • 1/3cup mayonnaise
  • 2teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • hot pepper sauce
  • 2ounces imported black caviar
  • 2cooked whole dungeness crabs, legs and body separated, cracked
  • toasted sourdough bread

    DIRECTIONS

    Whisk first 3 ingredients in medium bowl. Season to taste with hot pepper sauce. Fold in black caviar. Divide sauce between 2 ramekins. Serve crabs with dipping sauce and toast.

  • The salty anchovies complement the briny sweetness of the crabmeat. Buttermilk lightens the dressing and makes this version of the classic Caesar especially delicious.

    Makes 4 main-course servings.

    INGREDIENTS

  • 7garlic cloves
  • 5anchovy fillets, drained, chopped
  • 3/4cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4cup buttermilk
  • 1tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1teaspoon worcestershire sauce1/4cup olive oil
  • 3cups 1-inch cubes crustless day-old sourdough bread 1pound fresh lump crabmeat, picked over
  • 14cups bite-size pieces romaine lettuce (about 10 ounces)
  • 3cups mixed baby greens
  • 1/3cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

    DIRECTIONS

    Finely chop 3 garlic cloves and anchovies in processor. Add mayonnaise, buttermilk, lemon juice and Worcestershire and blend until smooth. Season dressing to taste with pepper.


    Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Flatten 4 garlic cloves with flat side of knife blade. Add to oil; cook until brown, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, discard garlic. Add bread cubes to oil; cook until crisp and golden, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. Transfer to paper towels; drain.


    Toss crab and 1/4 cup dressing in medium bowl. Combine romaine, mixed greens, cheese and bread cubes in large bowl. Toss with enough dressing to taste. Season generously with pepper. Divide salad among plates. Top with crab.

  • Many dark, leafy greens, like kale, contain calcium. The beans have it, too.

    Makes 6 servings.

    INGREDIENTS

  • nonstick vegetable oil spray
  • 3medium carrots, peeled, quartered lengthwise
  • 2large tomatoes, quartered
  • 1large onion, cut into 8 wedges
  • 1/2small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
  • 6garlic cloves, unpeeled
  • 1tablespoon olive oil6cups (or more) canned vegetable broth
  • 4cups finely chopped kale
  • 3large fresh thyme sprigs
  • 1bay leaf115-ounce can great northern beans, drained

    DIRECTIONS

    Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray rimmed baking sheet with oil spray. Arrange carrots, tomatoes, onion, squash and garlic on sheet. Drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Bake until vegetables are brown and tender, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.


    Transfer carrots and squash to work surface. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces; set aside. Peel garlic cloves; place in processor. Add tomatoes and onion; puree until almost smooth. Pour 1/2 cup broth onto baking sheet; scrape up any browned bits. Transfer broth and vegetable puree to large pot. Add 5 1/2 cups broth, kale, thyme and bay leaf to pot; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered until kale is tender, about 30 minutes.


    Add beans and reserved carrots and squash to soup. Simmer 8 minutes to blend flavors, adding more broth to thin soup if necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaf. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to simmer before serving.)

  • Makes 6 servings.

    INGREDIENTS

  • 3tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2large celery stalks, chopped
  • 1cup chopped onion
  • 1small carrot, chopped
  • 2garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1tablespoon chopped peeled fresh ginger
  • 4whole cloves
  • 1 1/2teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 1 1/2teaspoons whole coriander seeds
  • 1small dried chili (such as chili de árbol*), broken in half
  • 7large plum tomatoes, 4 coarsely chopped, 3 finely chopped
  • 1/4teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 5cups canned vegetable broth
  • 1 1/2cups red lentils**1/3cup chopped chives
  • 2tablespoons mustard seeds

    DIRECTIONS

    Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add next 9 ingredients; sauté until vegetables begin to brown, about 12 minutes. Add 4 coarsely chopped tomatoes and turmeric; stir 2 minutes. Add broth and lentils; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until lentils are very tender, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Puree soup in batches in blender. Return to pot. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Chill until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm soup before continuing.)


    Mix 3 finely chopped tomatoes and chives in bowl. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add mustard seeds; cook until seeds darken and begin to pop, about 2 minutes. Pour into small bowl.


    Ladle soup into bowls. Top with mustard oil and tomato-chive mixture.


    *Available at Latin American markets and some specialty foods stores.


    **Available at Indian markets and some supermarkets. If unavailable, use green lentils and simmer about 30 minutes.