18 uncle recipes

Uncle Ben's best brownies: one-bowl cocoa brownies with a fudgy, glossy crumb. Butter melted right in the mixing bowl, four eggs for that classic shiny crackle top, and a deep cocoa hit.

Blueberry muffins where half the berries get mashed into the batter for purple swirls and double the fruit flavor. Sugar-crusted tops, bakery-style domes.

An excellent finger-lickin'-chicken to dip into your favorite sauce or dressing

Classic coleslaw with crisp shredded cabbage tossed in a creamy, tangy-sweet dressing. An easy side that gets better as it chills, great alongside barbecue, burgers, and fried chicken.

Swiss steak braises tough, flour-dredged beef low and slow in a herby tomato gravy with onions, peppers, and mushrooms until fork-tender. A classic one-skillet comfort dinner made for mashed potatoes.

Uncle Roy's chili: a meatless vegetarian chili with two kinds of canned tomatoes, kidney beans, three tablespoons of chili powder, and a serious shot of hot pepper sauce. Pantry-friendly weeknight one-pot dinner.

Traditional Scotch shortbread with just butter, sugar, flour, and salt. Baked low and slow until pale and sandy with a pure butter crumble in every bite.

Chewy butterscotch brownies (blondies) with dark brown sugar, melted butter, and vanilla in a one-bowl, six-ingredient recipe. Rich, toffee-flavored squares that take 10 minutes to mix and bake golden.

Grilled venison kabobs marinated in cranberry juice, olive oil, garlic, and herbs with mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers. A hunter's favorite that tames game meat with a fruity, savory marinade.

Homemade picante sauce simmered with canned whole tomatoes, fresh jalapenos, onion, and apple cider vinegar. Adjust the heat by adding more peppers. Serve chilled with chips.

Uncle Ben's ham and bean soup slow-simmers navy beans with ham shanks, garlic, carrots, celery, and potatoes for a hearty, smoky bowl. Old-fashioned thrifty cold-weather meal.

Grilled whole trout stuffed with cornbread, mushrooms, olives, and sour cream dressing, seasoned with dill and lemon. Cooked in a fish basket over open flame.

Uncle Buck's currant jelly sauce is a fiery, tangy glaze for venison and wild game. Currant jelly, cayenne, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and butter simmer into a bold, velvety finish.

This recipe is my Great Grandmother Thorn's recipe. (GG's mother) So that would make it your Great Great Grandmother.

Rice pilaf tossed with Italian dressing, soy sauce, fresh spinach strips, scallions, and crumbled bacon. A make-ahead potluck salad that serves 50 and gets better as it chills.

Skewered lamb grilled on bamboo skewers with a silky roasted red pepper and tomato dipping sauce brightened with fresh coriander. Served over aromatic rice for a weeknight-friendly twist on kebabs.