1,520 brain recipes

An easy pot pie that uses up leftover turkey and mashed potatoes. Instead of a complicated pastry it uses the mashed potatoes instead. I always cook extra mash knowing it easy to pair with my leftover turkey.

Mexican corn casserole kicked up with jalapeños and red bell peppers in a cornmeal-buttermilk base loaded with cheddar cheese. Bakes into a moist, spicy side dish that feeds a crowd.

Herb-packed chickpea falafel patties loaded with cumin, basil, marjoram, thyme, and tahini, pan-fried until golden brown and stuffed into whole wheat pita pockets with fresh veggies.

Moist pineapple 7-Up cake made with yellow cake mix, pineapple pudding, and real Seven-Up soda. Topped with a homemade coconut-pecan frosting loaded with crushed pineapple. A retro Southern sheet cake classic.

Herbed chickpea patties blended with egg whites, bread crumbs, dry mustard, oregano, and basil, pan-fried on a nonstick griddle. Low-fat vegetarian fritters similar to falafel but lighter and easier to make.

Baked turkey empanadas with a whole wheat cornmeal crust filled with cheddar cheese and green chiles. Homemade dough, golden and flaky, great for using leftover turkey.

One-skillet beef and ramen stir-fry with sirloin strips, broccoli, carrots, water chestnuts, and mushrooms. A 30-minute weeknight dinner using instant ramen noodles.

A creamy dessert salad loaded with bananas, strawberries, pineapple, and walnuts folded into sweetened cream cheese and whipped topping. All the flavors of a banana split in a bowl.

Lighter carrot cake loaf with crushed pineapple, whipped egg whites, and a smooth nonfat cream cheese topping. Warm cinnamon spice in every slice without the heavy guilt.

Creamy New Mexican calabacitas with sauteed summer squash, corn, green chiles, and melted cheddar in a milky sauce. A comforting, traditional side dish that comes together in 40 minutes.

Tuna salad sandwich with Swiss cheese, sour cream, and crunchy celery on rye bread. Ready in 5 minutes with a creamy tang that sets it apart from basic mayo-only tuna.

Quick Italian garden saute with zucchini, corn, green pepper, and fresh tomatoes in butter with basil and oregano. A 15-minute summer vegetable side dish from skillet to table.

Onion casserole with butter-cooked sliced onions in cream of chicken soup with mushrooms and paprika, topped with buttered croutons and melted cheddar and Parmesan. A fast, savory side dish.

Frozen fruit cup with applesauce, mandarin oranges, strawberries, and grapes. A no-cook, no-sugar-added freezer dessert that tastes like sorbet but takes five minutes to assemble.

Layered venison and rice pie with browned ground deer meat, breadcrumbs, cheese, and tomato sauce baked in a pie shell. Hunter's pantry comfort food.

Vegetarian vegetable soup with an Indian twist: ghee-toasted ginger, garlic and onion form a roux base, then mixed vegetables, tofu and soy sauce join in a warming 30-minute bowl.