Recipes with bay leaves

Eingemachtes Kalbsfleisch, traditional German veal in a creamy lemon-and-egg-yolk-thickened gravy. A classic Swabian comfort dish served over potato dumplings or pasta.

Cold shrimp pasta salad with wine-poached shrimp, fresh basil, sweet peas, and bell pepper in a Dijon-garlic vinaigrette made from the shrimp poaching broth. A no-mayo pasta salad packed with fresh flavor.

Dutch oven pot roast braised with red wine, rosemary, thyme, sage, and bay leaves, with potatoes added in the last 30 minutes. A classic Sunday beef dinner with built-in gravy.

This rich, earthy soup has but 100 calories per serving if made with non-fat milk.

Garlic shrimp linguine with rosemary, oregano, and a touch of cayenne. Eight cloves of garlic, lemon-spiked olive oil, fresh spinach and tomato, finished with parmesan.

Mexican escabeche oysters pickled in vinegar with garlic, carrots, cauliflower, and herbs. Briefly cooked then marinated overnight for a tangy, briny cold appetizer with lime and jalapeno.

Vegan tofu bourguignon with red wine-marinated baked tofu, sauteed mushrooms, and a rich thyme-tarragon gravy. A plant-based twist on the French classic, served over pasta or rice.

Pork spareribs marinated overnight in pineapple juice, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar, then steamed and grilled with a homemade citrus BBQ sauce. A three-step process for fall-off-the-bone ribs.

Cajun seafood gumbo with shrimp, lump crab, ham, and okra built on a dark cocoa-colored roux. Finished with file powder for authentic Louisiana flavor and body.

Traditional German sauerbraten with a four-day vinegar marinade, slow-braised rump roast, and a tangy gingersnap-and-sour-cream gravy. An old-world Sunday dinner worth the wait.

Crusty Pennsylvania Dutch scrapple from scratch: pork ribs and liver simmered with sage, thyme, and cayenne, then bound with coarse cornmeal, set in pans, sliced and pan-fried for breakfast.

Broiled shrimp and scallops marinated in brandy, olive oil, and Herbs de Provence, then crisped under the broiler with a breadcrumb coating. Served with a silky white wine beurre blanc and a squeeze of lemon.

Greek baked rabbit (lagos kounelli fournou) marinated for days in red wine and herbs, then slow-braised in a tomato-wine sauce warmed with allspice. A rustic, fall-off-the-bone game dish from the Greek countryside.

Coriander pork chops crusted with toasted ground coriander seed and cracked black pepper, braised with white wine, rosemary, and aromatic vegetables. The fragrant Mediterranean-style chop with a velvety pan sauce.

Basic bean soup with homemade vegetable scrap stock, sautéed mirepoix, and cooked beans, half puréed for body, half left whole. Vegetarian, fiber-rich, freezer-friendly.

Tingal Poblana with slow-simmered shredded pork and beef, chorizo, tomatillos, chipotle, oregano, and marjoram. A rich Mexican stew from Puebla served as a bowl or scooped into warm tortillas.

Jalapenos en escabeche pickled with cauliflower, carrots, pearl onions, and garlic in white wine vinegar brine. The Mexican taqueria classic for tacos, tortas, and beyond.

A one-pot cioppino with fish, shrimp, and clams in a slow-simmered tomato, white wine, and herb broth. Weeknight-friendly with just 10 minutes of prep and pantry-staple seasonings.

San Francisco cioppino with white fish, shrimp, scallops, and Dungeness crab in a tomato, white wine, and clam juice broth. A classic Fisherman's Wharf seafood stew.

Pork medallions seared and finished with a red wine pan sauce built on shallots, ginger, balsamic, honey, and butter. Bistro-style technique that turns boneless pork loin into a 35-minute dinner.

Vegan Irish stew with seitan, potatoes, parsnips, and carrots in a rosemary-herb broth thickened with cornstarch. A plant-based take on the classic Irish stew.

Quick beef stew uses canned vegetables and pre-cooked beef cubes warmed in beef gravy with onion and bay in the microwave. Ready in 15 minutes for a budget-friendly weeknight dinner.

Venison-beef stew combines wild game and beef with potatoes, carrots, celery, and peas in a rich broth. A hearty hunter's stew that simmers low and slow for tender results.

Veau dans le chaudron, a French-Canadian veal pot roast browned in bacon fat with garlic, then braised with whole potatoes and onions. No added liquid needed.

Authentic Texas chili con carne with cubed beef (no beans), simmered in a paste of rehydrated ancho and pequin chiles. Slow-simmered for 90 minutes of deep, smoky heat.

Fish fillets with tomatoes, capers, and olives is the Veracruz-style Mexican classic: lime-marinated red snapper or halibut simmered in tomato-olive-caper sauce spiked with pickled jalapeños and warm spices.

Veal stew browned on the stovetop then finished in the microwave with beef bouillon, mushrooms, tomato, and onion in a flour-thickened sauce. Fork-tender veal in under 40 minutes.

Spicy tamale pie with simmered beef chuck and pork shoulder, dried chile gravy, raisins, and olives under a cornmeal masa-style crust. Tex-Mex history on a plate.

Mom's beef stew braised in red wine and tomato sauce with white wine vinegar, oregano, potatoes, and carrots. Low and slow comfort food for six.

Tuscan-style duck ragu for pappardelle with boneless duck, pancetta, chicken livers, porcini mushrooms, rosemary, and white wine. A rich, slow-simmered Italian meat sauce.

Ground chicken and veal patties loaded with sautéed mushrooms and herbs, pan-fried and oven-crisped, then served with a punchy Dijon and English mustard sauce. Bistro-style burgers for eight.

My hearty soup starts with a homemade stock simmered low for hours, then strained and skimmed clean before a load of vegetables, pasta, and pulled meat go in. A from-scratch, stick-to-your-ribs bowl made the old-fashioned way.

Garlicky black pepper shrimp and black-eyed peas is Low Country Southern cooking in one skillet: bacon, holy trinity, bay-scented peas, and wine-splashed shrimp finished with cracked pepper.

Microwave Brunswick stew with chicken, lima beans, corn, okra, and tomatoes. A quicker take on the Southern classic that builds its own broth from scratch in about 40 minutes.

Zesty cioppino with shrimp, Dungeness crab, and scallops simmered in a tomato-white wine broth with herbs. A San Francisco-style seafood stew in one hour.

Slow cooker split pea and ham soup made with a meaty ham bone, green split peas, and aromatic herbs like marjoram, thyme, and celery seed. Just load the pot and let it go for 10 hours.

Veal grillades and grits, a classic New Orleans Creole brunch dish. Flour-dusted veal steaks browned and baked in a rich tomato-pepper gravy, spooned over creamy grits.

White bean salad with a blended lemon-dill dressing, garnished with sieved hard-cooked eggs, black olives, and green onions. A make-ahead cold salad with Russian roots.

Sweet and sour green beans with bay leaf, cloves, and vinegar. Diabetic-friendly vegetarian side dish ready in 13 minutes with sugar substitute.

Vegan tempeh and mushroom stew served over mashed potatoes made with soy milk. Simmered tempeh, sauteed mushrooms, tomato, and soy sauce piled on a creamy potato base.

Grandma's Ohio farm chili made with ground beef, hot Italian sausage, kidney beans, and condensed tomato soup. Served the Midwest way: ladled over mashed potatoes in a big bowl.

Let your tastebuds run wild with this stuffing that is perfect for a turkey or as a side dish during the holidays.

Honey glazed chicken breasts poached in aromatic broth, chilled overnight for texture, then broiled with a glossy honey finish and topped with toasted almonds.

Low-fat mushroom barley soup made with dried mushrooms, pearl barley, fat-free chicken broth, potatoes, and carrots. Finished with a swirl of nonfat sour cream and a pinch of dill. Earthy, hearty, and lighter than the diner version.

Skyline-style Cincinnati chili: simmered ground beef in a thin tomato-spiced sauce with cinnamon, allspice, and a hint of vinegar. Served over spaghetti with shredded cheese in the classic Ohio diner style.

Pacific Northwest smoked salmon chowder with red potatoes, fish stock, dill, tarragon, and a finish of half-and-half. Smoky, herby, and built on bacon fat for layered depth.

Spaghettini with clam sauce, sauteed leeks, white wine, and fresh arugula tossed in at the end for a peppery bite. A light, briny pasta dish in 25 minutes.

Beef chili with dried white navy beans, slow-simmered 4 hours with cumin, paprika, cayenne, and oregano. A no-tomato chili with deep, smoky spice and hearty texture.