Fresh tomato pasta toss simmers blanched and peeled tomatoes with garlic, basil, parsley, and oregano, finished with a splash of cream over penne. A high-summer pasta sauce when tomatoes are at their peak.
Italian zucchini ricotta fritters with garlic, scallions, and bright lemon zest, pan-fried in olive oil until crisp and golden. Crispy on the outside, tender and herby inside.
Cold soups make for excellent summer fare. The best vichyssoise I ever had in my life was at a French restaurant during a Montreal summer. Humor me. Try the soup in the traditional manner but then, if you must heat it up, (sigh), go ahead.
Brisket with peppercorns marinated 24 hours in soy sauce, crusted with cracked black pepper, broiled until charred, then roasted to medium rare. Served thinly sliced at room temperature.
Couscous Provencal with artichoke hearts, ripe tomato, fresh basil, and briny capers. A bright Mediterranean side that comes together in about 15 minutes using steeped (not boiled) couscous.
Pureed celery and dried apricot soup simmered in vegetable stock. An unexpected combination that blends herbal freshness with natural fruit sweetness.
Southern chicken fried steak: tenderised round steak dipped in milk and seasoned flour, deep-fried golden, then served with a creamy milk gravy made from the pan drippings. A classic comfort food dinner.
Easy raw fennel salad: crisp fennel cubes tossed with good olive oil, salt, pepper and a splash of white wine vinegar. A refreshing, anise-scented Italian side that lets the fennel's clean crunch shine. Ready in minutes.
Gourmet meat loaf stuffed with a sauteed mushroom and sour cream filling, wrapped in seasoned ground beef with oats and Worcestershire. A hidden center that surprises every slice.
Herbed beef and vegetable stew braises chunks of beef in tomato, white wine, and Italian herbs, then finishes with carrots, mushrooms, green beans, and celery. A classic Sunday Dutch oven dinner.
Waldorf chicken salad with poached chicken breast, crisp red apples, toasted pecans, and a tangy yogurt-mustard dressing. A lighter take on the classic with three built-in variations.
Homemade Italian pepper sausage with coarse ground pork, salt pork, fennel, paprika, red pepper flakes, and red wine stuffed into natural hog casings.
Beef and rice meatloaf rolled jelly-roll style around a sweet peach and dill filling, brushed with peach syrup as it bakes. The retro pinwheel that turns ground beef into a dinner-party showstopper.
"...For those who love a harmony of softly blended flavors with the faint suggestion of seafood..."
Fruity and creamy. Italian spaghetti with lemon, olive oil with a touch of basil. Bright, lemony flavors.
Korean style flank steak marinated in soy sauce, sesame seeds, garlic, ginger, and dark corn syrup. Broiled and sliced thin for a savory, caramelized finish.
Mushroom and celery root soup with dried and fresh mushrooms, pear, Spanish onion, and a touch of cream pureed into a thick, earthy bisque. Freezes for up to 3 months. Despite the title, this is a rich pureed soup, not a salad.
Slow cooker tangy barbecue beef sandwiches with chuck roast braised in a vinegar-spiked sauce until fork-tender, then shredded and piled on buns.
Chicken saute Creole style with sieved tomatoes, green peppers, onions, garlic, and basil. Flour-dredged and browned, then simmered until fork-tender in a rich tomato sauce.
Creamy cheese vegetable soup with Velveeta, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, and milk thickened with a flour slurry. A rich, velvety comfort soup that melts into pure smoothness with every spoonful.
Shellfish shell marinara with littleneck clams and shrimp in a slow-simmered tomato sauce with red wine, basil, and garlic, served over shell pasta. A seafood pasta with real Italian soul.
Pierre's chili with a beef and pork blend, kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, cumin, oregano, and chili powder. Garnished with Monterey Jack, sour cream, and lime wedges.
Here's one for you lucky folks that have chanterelles popping up in the back forty.
Mexican-style crab and avocado cocktail with jalapeno, cilantro, tomato, garlic, and fresh lime juice. A no-cook seafood appetizer that's bright, creamy, and spicy.
Black-eyed pea soup slow-simmered with a ham bone for New Year's Day good luck. Creamy, smoky, and served over white rice in the Southern tradition.
Quinoa tabbouleh swaps traditional bulgur for protein-rich quinoa in a parsley-forward Lebanese salad with scallions, lemon, olive oil, and garlic. Gluten-free, vegan, refreshing.
Spicy fried cashews tossed in chili powder and Chinese five-spice. Wok-fried in peanut oil until golden, then coated hot in a peppery spice blend. Cocktail snack ready in 15 minutes flat.
Two sugar-free salad dressings in one recipe: a tangy vinegar base with dry mustard and paprika, plus a poppy seed variation with apple cider vinegar. Diabetic-friendly and oil-free.
Nothing is better than a quick lunch so try this simple recipe that is 100% stress free.
Fresh herb salad dressing with dill, tarragon, chervil, chives, and marjoram steeped in olive oil. A French-inspired vinaigrette that improves the longer it sits.
Thai-style marinade with soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, fresh ginger, garlic, cilantro, and citrus zest. A sweet-savory marinade for chicken and grilled meats, ready in 5 minutes.
Vinaigrette marinade with garlic mashed into coarse salt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Works on beef, chicken, pork, fish, or vegetables.
Eggplant relish with baked eggplant, hard-boiled egg, green pepper, and onion ground together with vinegar and garlic. A cold Eastern European-style spread for bread and crackers.
Grilled Cornish game hens marinated in honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and white wine vinegar. Basted frequently and finished directly over charcoal for crispy skin.
Spicy garbanzo bean soup with potatoes, tomatoes, saffron, turmeric, cumin, and ginger simmered for four hours from dried chickpeas. A Moroccan-inspired vegan soup finished with lemon and cilantro.
Quick ground beef in tomato soup sauce with onion, green pepper, and carrot served over noodles. A fast, no-fuss weeknight dinner using pantry staples.
Mock parmigiana shapes seasoned beef patties, bakes them in a mushroom-tomato sauce, then tops with melted mozzarella. The veal parmigiana shortcut for any weeknight.
'BULKOKEE' is Korea's national dish and may have been the inspiration for Japan's teriyaki, which it resembles.
Veal fricassee with capers and dill: tender veal in a creamy white wine sauce enriched with egg yolks, brightened with briny capers and fresh dill.
Southwest chicken and cheese pan-fries pounded chicken breasts, then smothers them with sauteed onions, mushrooms, green chiles, and jalapeno, finished with melted provolone.
Tomato, basil, and mozzarella salad (insalata caprese) with thick-sliced ripe tomatoes, shredded mozzarella, fresh basil strips, and a drizzle of olive oil. Five ingredients, 15 minutes, Italian perfection.
Old-school fried crab cakes bound with just enough breadcrumbs and a single egg yolk so the sweet lump meat actually shines. Worcestershire and dry mustard sharpen the edges, served with lemon wedges and golden crisp.
Southwestern marinade with lime juice, tequila, olive oil, jalapeno, cilantro, and garlic. Built for grilled shrimp or soft-shell crab with bold citrus-heat flavor.
Beer-braised beef brisket coated in chili sauce and slow roasted until fork-tender, served over wild rice almondine with the rich pan juices spooned on top.
Turkey piccata: flour-dredged turkey cutlets sauteed in butter and finished with a fresh lemon pan sauce. A lighter, faster take on the Italian veal classic.
Spinach and grapefruit salad with papaya, orange sections, radicchio, and onion rings in a lemon-paprika dressing with red pepper flakes. A bright, tropical no-cook salad.
Traditional Quebec tourtiere with spiced pork filling, mashed potatoes, and a homemade hot-water crust, served with a mushroom and herb gravy. A French-Canadian meat pie classic.
Easy Mexican chili made in a slow cooker with ground beef, kidney beans, green chiles, and tomatoes. A dump-and-go crockpot chili that simmers 8-10 hours on low heat.