Recipes with bay leaves

Kakavia is the Greek fisherman's soup: tomato, fennel, and herb broth simmered with mixed fish, lobster, shrimp, and scallops, ladled over thick toast. Rustic Mediterranean seafood stew at its most generous.

Slow-braised pork belly and kidneys with orange zest, celery, garlic, and rosemary, made a day ahead so the surface fat lifts off cleanly. Old-school British casserole craft.

Vegetable lasagna packed with broccoli folded right into the ricotta layer, stacked with a chunky homemade tomato sauce of peppers, celery and basil. A hearty meatless lasagna under bubbly mozzarella.

Chicken quarters poached with rosemary, then browned and sauced in a bold blend of anchovies, black olives, capers, jalapeños, pine nuts, and basil. Intensely savory and impossible to forget.

Pressure cooker chicken cacciatora with stewed tomatoes, white wine, zucchini, red peppers, and garlic. A rustic Italian one-pot dinner served over pasta in about an hour.

A from-scratch turkey chowder simmered from the carcass with carrots, celery, potatoes, and diced turkey, served with a caramelized cranberry compote and sour cream. The most elegant way to use your Thanksgiving leftovers.

Halfway House pot roast: beef browned in garlic butter, simmered with dark rum, horseradish, and peppercorns, then finished with whole onions, carrots, and potatoes in rum gravy.

Roasted vegetable soup that starts with a from-scratch stock: carrots, onions, leeks and tomatoes roasted until deeply browned, then simmered into a rich broth. Built into a hearty vegan soup with potatoes, zucchini, pasta and peas.

Sauerbraten meatballs in a sweet-and-sour gingersnap gravy with brown sugar, ketchup, and whole peppercorns. German-inspired comfort food served over mashed potatoes.

Sudado, a Latin American fish saute simmered in a garlicky tomato sauce with thyme, oregano, and bay leaves. A one-skillet dish ready in 30 minutes.

Onion soup Provencal with 8 pounds of slowly caramelized onions, fresh tomatoes, red wine, herbs, and barley miso for umami depth. Topped with croutons and Emmentaler cheese.

Blackberry vinegar chicken with a rich and flavourful demiglace. Great for a special occasion.

Mike's fish fumet is a clean, aromatic homemade fish stock simmered from fish trimmings, leeks, and herbs with a splash of tarragon vinegar for brightness. The French base for chowders, seafood soups, and pan sauces.

A show-stopping French technique: whole chickens deboned, stuffed with mushrooms and ground veal, marinated in cognac, and served in a pink and green peppercorn cream sauce with demi-glace. Part 1 of 2.

Maple-pepper roasted pork loin marinates overnight in lemon, maple syrup, shallots, garlic, thyme, and black pepper, then roasts with a sweet-peppery glaze. A Canadian-inspired roast for a crowd.

Red snapper Veracruz with pan-fried fillets in a tomato-olive sauce spiked with cinnamon, cloves, lime, and jalapeno, served over new potatoes. A classic Mexican coastal dish with warm spice and tangy brine.