Blender

The secret to making this soup extra fast is frozen butternut squash — here, it's blended with coconut milk and an array of aromatic spices.

A touch of sherry and ground roasted almonds elevate this creamy noodle casserole to company fare. Serve with a crisp green salad for a delicious meal.

Butternut squash and cashews combine to make the creamy sauce for this mac uncheese. For a variation, add cooked green vegetables, such as broccoli or peas. To make this gluten free, use gluten-free pasta and bread crumbs.

Tender Swiss chard breaks down easily in a regular blender for smoothies that need no straining. Since red chard veins can bleed color, choose green chard to keep the verdant hue. Reserve chard stems for another use.