136 boring recipes

A killer no-bean Texas-style chili with coarse-ground chuck, beer, tequila, whiskey, and six whole jalapeños. Not for the faint of heart.

Almost-a-meal casserole layers seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, and Worcestershire under diced potatoes, corn, lima beans, and red peppers, then crowns the whole thing with melted cheddar. A one-dish dinner with pantry-friendly bones.

Kiros Kai Faki is a thick split pea soup slow-simmered with pigs feet or pork hocks for 6 hours until the meat falls off the bone. Brined overnight for clean, rich flavor.

Babe's Apple Cake is a rustic, wholesome treat made with whole wheat flour, wheat germ, diced apples, walnuts, and warm cinnamon-nutmeg spice. Dense, moist, and barely sweet enough to call dessert.

A big-batch chowder with chicken, pearl barley, crumbled bacon, potatoes, carrots, corn, and peas in a creamy evaporated milk broth. One pot, feeds a crowd, and warms you to the bone.

Golden-browned whole chicken pieces simmered with okra, fresh tomatoes, cumin, and white wine until fall-off-the-bone tender. A soulful one-pot stew that tastes even better the next day.

Moist, low-fat chocolate cake made with pureed prunes instead of butter and topped with a tangy orange glaze. Deeply chocolatey with barely any fat, and no one will guess the secret ingredient.

Competition-style smoked BBQ ribs with a bold paprika dry rub and tangy homemade sauce simmered with molasses and chili. Slow-smoked over hickory for 5 hours of fall-off-the-bone glory.

Authentic Mexican birria with lamb, veal, and pork rubbed in a toasted ancho-guajillo-cascabel chili paste, marinated overnight, and slow-roasted until falling off the bone. Served with tomato broth, onion, and oregano.

Dark chocolate pecan torte with a fudgy, barely-set center, chopped pecans running through every bite and a glossy chocolate glaze poured over top. Flourless-style richness with just enough flour to hold it together.

Sweet and sour chicken saute with orange juice, white wine, raspberry vinegar, and rosemary, finished with fresh orange segments and avocado. Bistro-style chicken with bright pan sauce.

Chewy blond brownies loaded with brown sugar, butter, chopped nuts, and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Butterscotch-rich and fudgy in the center with barely crisp edges. Ready in 40 minutes with ingredients you probably already have.

Greek potted lamb braised with lemon juice and butter, served over crispy pan-fried potatoes. A hearty one-pot meal with rich, lemony pan sauce.

Oxtail soup simmered until the meat falls off the bone, then finished with potatoes, mixed vegetables, and tomato paste for a rich, hearty bowl. A classic stick-to-your-ribs soup served as is or ladled over white rice.

Chicken breasts baked under a homemade ratatouille of eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, bell peppers, and tomatoes with fresh oregano. Serve over pasta or rice.

Layered casserole for two with sliced potatoes, sweet Vidalia onions, cream of mushroom soup, and browned chicken breast. Cozy comfort food with just 6 ingredients.