Pea and Mushroom Fettuccine with Sweet Poached Pears

I'm almost always a fan of red sauce, not white. First, I simply love tomatoes. Second, I hate heavy food items. Thick, cream-filled, salty alfredos simply don't usually do it for me. However, this delicate and extremely lightened version hit the spot. There is just enough sauce to coat the fresh fettuccine without overwhelming, letting the mushrooms and peas shine through. So even if you're not usually a fan of white sauce, give this one a chance!

You'll also find a recipe for poached pears below. Although I'd enjoyed them elsewhere before, I'd never personally tried my hand at cooking this dessert. When there were some quickly-ripening pears on my counter, though, it seemed like the perfect chance. They turned out absolutely delicious and will definitely be made again!

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 1 hr

Lentil and Mushroom Veggie Burgers with Crispy Brussels Sprout Leaves

Delicious! As someone who hasn't cooked a lot of lentils, I wasn't entirely sure how this would turn out but I was eager to try. I love mushrooms and veggie burgers, after all. It took a little creative maneuvering to get the consistency right, but in the end these burgers turned out amazing. My husband and I eagerly gobbled them down as traditional burgers on a bun, open faced burgers, and also just the patty alone. They are flavorful and guilt-free.

As you'll see below, I chose to top mine with some freshly shredded smoked gouda, but feel free to get creative here. I also felt that these burgers were juicy enough as is, but you could easily whip up a nice mustard or garlic aioli to top these off. If you come up with a delicious combination, let us know in the comments!

Difficulty: easy
Time: 1 hr 10 min (mostly lentil cooking time)