Need a new recipe for green beans that doesn't make you yawn? Green Beans with Mushrooms and Almonds is a savory mix of haricots verts (French beans) shiitake mushrooms, toasted almonds and herbs topped with a crispy coating of garlicky breadcrumbs. It's a great dish for holiday dinners: make the beans and topping ahead of time and put the beans in an oven proof dish, with the breadcrumbs on the side. 15 minutes before dinner, scatter the breadcrumbs over the beans and heat in a 350' oven until everything is warmed through.

Maitake mushrooms (also known as Hen of the Woods) are a culinary and medicinal feast. Rich in minerals and some B vitamins, maitakes are also used in Asian medicine as powerful immune enhancers and cancer fighters. Beyond their medicinal properties, these mushrooms are utterly delicious, and have a rich, fragrant, earthy flavor. Try Soba Noodles with Maitake Mushrooms for a simple way to prepare this nutritional powerhouse.

Aloo Gobiis a traditional East Indian dish of potatoes, cauliflower and curry that turns up in many dishes, including samosas, West Indian roti, as well as simply served with rice and green vegetables. Curried Cauliflower, Japanese Yam and Potatoes is a whole foods spin on this traditional dish. Serve with naan bread, greens, and chutney for a traditional feel.

The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and folks are often quite challenged to find festive vegetarian entrées. Vegetarian turkey just doesn't make the grade as far as I'm concerned, and while it can do in a pinch, vegan and vegetarian guests will be delighted to find something other than a slab of processed soy protein at a holiday feast. Roasted Vegetable Napoleon is a delicious and celebratory dish that is well worth the time required to make it. With a bit of organization (most of the preparation can be done a day ahead if needed), you can impress your guests with a memorable meal. The shot above shows a free form version of this dish, but if you want to be extra fancy, use round metal cookie cutters to create perfectly uniform circles of the squash and mushroom.