10,000 black recipes

Penne rigate with a creamy sweet red pepper sauce blended from silken tofu, carrots, basil, and garlic. A dairy-free vegan pasta sauce with dreamy texture and zero cashew soaking.

Creepy cheese-stuffed rigatoni shaped into slithering snakes with BBQ sauce markings and peppercorn eyes. A kid-friendly Halloween party snack that's equal parts gross and genius.

Scandinavian-style herring gratin layered with sliced potatoes, red onions, cream, and a golden breadcrumb crust. A comforting, old-world fish bake for a hearty lunch.

Sauteed venison liver with butter-fried apple slices, brown sugar, and cinnamon. A quick wild game recipe garnished with crisp bacon and tomato wedges.

Homemade pizza dough made from scratch with yeast, rolled thin, and baked crisp with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and oregano. An Italian-American classic that's simple enough for any weeknight.

Creamy grilling sauce for lobster tails made with mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, and Worcestershire. Whip it up in 5 minutes and brush it on for charred, tangy, buttery lobster off the grill.

Home-improved tomato sauce doctors canned tomato sauce with sauteed onion, garlic, and fresh herbs. Tastes like scratch-made in 30 minutes.

Microwave cream of pea soup blends sweet green peas, soft onion, butter, and light cream in a single casserole. A 25-minute, no-stovetop creamy vegetarian soup for busy weeknights.

Southern-style dried lima beans slow-simmered with smoked ham hock skin, bacon drippings, and a pinch of sugar until creamy and tender. Simple, smoky, old-fashioned comfort food.

Chili cilantro dressing with green chilies, fresh cilantro, lime juice, garlic, and honey. A bright, spicy blender dressing ready in 10 minutes for salads, tacos, or grain bowls.

Smoky chipotle salsa simmered with roma tomatoes and garlic, then pureed smooth for a deep, fiery table sauce. A bold make-ahead salsa that keeps for days and freezes well.

Couscous Provencal with artichoke hearts, ripe tomato, fresh basil, and briny capers. A bright Mediterranean side that comes together in about 15 minutes using steeped (not boiled) couscous.

Creamy chicken Marsala dredges chicken breasts in flour and tarragon, sears them golden, then builds a rich Marsala-cream pan sauce sharpened with dry mustard. Served over rice with fresh parsley.

Silky smooth apple and celery soup with a touch of sweetness. Fresh celery and cooking apples simmer in stock, then get blended until velvety. Garnished with parsley and toasted almond flakes.

Loaded vegetable oxtail soup with butter-browned tails, carrots, turnips or cabbage, celery, and a splash of sherry. A French-leaning broth fortified with thyme, bay, and beef stock for restaurant-style depth.

This recipe was given to me by a friend who is an ex-patriot now living in Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. I serve this with yellow rice and grilled avocado halves.