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Lasagna takes time to assemble, but the sighs of joy and contentment with one bite of this cheesy, spinach filled Italian delight makes it all worth it. For a vegetarian version, try omitting the sausage or replacing it with a soy substitute - it tastes just as good.

Beef Osso Buco

Osso buco is a classic. No matter what kind of shank you're using, the marrow-filled bones give osso buco a meaty unctuousness that's hard to get from other cuts. Wine, tomato puree and tomato paste balance that richness beautifully, and fresh thyme gives the dish a delicious woodsy aroma.

Prosciutto, Mozzarella And Basil Pita Pizza

We love to use lavash or pita as pizza crust. It's fast, easy and gets perfectly crispy, especially when you go light on the toppings and really crank up the oven. New to cookthink? Welcome! Try our innovative search tool, or take a look at the blog.

Imam Bayildi

This dish is heaven for the eggplant-lover. The roasting brings out all of an eggplant's wonderful flavor, and the large vegetable serves as a handy container for the piles of onions and tomatoes. Imam Bayildi is a meal all on its own, but can also be paired with a simple grain.

Lima Beans And Radicchio With Pancetta

This is a dish that might just change your opinion of lima beans from "yuck" to "yum!" Stick to fresh or frozen, instead of canned, and the results are quite delicious.

Stuffed Cabbage

The ingredients list is long and the steps are many, but it really isn't as difficult as you might think to make a tray of delicious stuffed cabbage rolls. They are so tasty and freeze wonderfully for future meals. Read more about this recipe at Coconut & Lime.

Lamb And White Bean Chili

We substituted lamb for beef and added sage and oregano to make a Greek-influenced chili. You can buy your lamb pre-ground, but try pulsing cubed lamb in a food processor until coarsely ground for fresher, tastier chili. The list of toppings is endless, but try it with diced tomato, cucumber or crumbled feta cheese.

Texas Chili

Here's a basic Texas chili recipe. It calls for beef, of course, and never beans. You can buy your beef pre-ground, but try pulsing cubed beef in a food processor until coarsely ground for fresher, tastier chili. The list of toppings is endless, but diced onion, sour cream and cheddar cheese are classic.

Beef, Bean And Chipotle Chili

Here's a basic chili recipe with red kidney beans (which Texas die-hards would never add). You can buy your beef pre-ground, but try pulsing cubed beef in a food processor until coarsely ground for fresher, tastier chili. The list of toppings is endless, but diced onion, sour cream and cheddar cheese are classic.

Ham, Pineapple And Mushroom Pizza

This pizza fills out the full spectrum of tastes. There's sweet pineapple, tart tomato sauce, salty ham, a hint of bitter olive oil, meaty mushrooms and ham, and spicy red pepper flakes. We've found that really thin lavash bread works best for homemade pizzas, but pita bread and tortillas work, too.

Mushroom And Eggplant Moussaka

Like any casserole or gratin, this dish takes some assembly. The flip side to that is that it can be done ahead of time and can feed a crowd. And although this is a vegetarian moussaka, the mushrooms are so rich and meaty you won't miss the beef.

Beef, Orzo And Cabbage Casserole

We love to use orzo pasta instead of rice in casseroles. The pasta feels lighter than the rice and gives the casserole a more interesting texture. If you want to give the casserole a more Eastern European feel, add some caraway and mustard seeds.