Recipes with bay leaves

Indian pork in spinach sauce braises cubed pork with garam masala, ginger, yogurt, and chilies, finished with puréed spinach. A rich, saag-style curry that deepens with slow oven time.

Mexican Cincinnati chili spiced with cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and a square of unsweetened chocolate, ladled over spaghetti and topped with cheddar. The Greek-American Midwestern classic with a Mexican mole twist.

Spanish clay pot chicken with ham, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes braised in wine. A rustic Mediterranean one-pot meal cooked from a cold oven start for tender, falling-off-the-bone results.

Lamb Creole gumbo with browned riblets, stewed tomatoes, okra, black-eyed peas, white wine, and lemon. A Cajun-Louisiana stew with a lamb twist that freezes well.

Sorrel and haricot bean soup with a lemony, herbaceous flavor from fresh sorrel leaves, blended beans for body, and soy milk for creaminess. Vegan-friendly and deeply savory.

Venison stew simmers browned venison with onion, bay, Worcestershire, and a hint of allspice until fork-tender, then adds carrots and potatoes. A hearty, warmly spiced stew that tames the gamey edge and warms a cold night.

Favourite Crock Pot Two-Meat, Two Bean Chili recipe

Slow-roasted wild duck basted in flambed dry sherry with onion juice, white pepper, and red pepper flakes. Braised breast-side down for tender, flavorful meat.

White veal stock, the classic clear, pale fond blanc made by blanching veal and chicken bones, then simmering low with aromatics for hours. A neutral, gelatin-rich base for fine sauces and soups.

Spatchcocked roast turkey with cream gravy: backbone-removed bird that cooks in half the time, finished with a rich gravy of turkey stock, heavy cream, and nutmeg.

Indian yellow rice cooked with ghee, turmeric, saffron, whole spices, and green peas. Fragrant with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and bay leaves, topped with golden fried onions.

Soupe de saumon a la creme is a French salmon cream soup made with a homemade fish stock, diced salmon, and whipped cream finished with fresh dill. An elegant, light first course for a dinner party.

Homemade Italian sausage with ground pork shoulder, fennel seed, garlic, and crushed red pepper. The classic from-scratch sausage for grilling, frying, or pasta sauces.

Maple mustard game hens spatchcocked, marinated overnight in Dijon, lemon, and maple syrup, then roasted in a hot oven until skin is bronzed and crackling. Date-night dinner with restaurant flair.

Grilled steak and peppers vinaigrette stacks sirloin over butter-braised leeks and tops it with charred Cuban peppers in a Dijon-red wine dressing. A bistro-style three-layer plate.

Chicken pieces poached in a seasoned broth, then baked in a robust tomato sauce loaded with green chiles and garlic. A two-step method that keeps the meat juicy while building deep, layered Mexican flavors. Feeds 8 to 10.