Cold vegetable rice salad with crisp-tender green beans, peas, cucumber, and tomatoes tossed in a tangy tarragon vinaigrette. A refreshing make-ahead side for potlucks and summer cookouts.
Five-pepper chicken fajitas with red, yellow, and green bell peppers plus jalapeño and black pepper. Lime-cumin marinated chicken in whole wheat tortillas.
Mac and cheese meets soufflé in this puffy baked dish studded with sliced franks. Dijon mustard and sharp cheddar give it grown-up flavor kids still love.
Layers of sliced zucchini, fresh tomatoes, onions, melted cheese, and crispy bacon seasoned with oregano and garlic. This crustless zucchini pizza bake delivers all the pizza flavor without the dough.
Put your fishing pole to use with this savory dish that will have you wishing it was summer all year long!
Pear and parsnip salad with blanched parsnips, fanned fresh pear slices, green onions, and a light honey yogurt dressing. A low-fat, elegant side for fall and winter.
Loaded vegetable chicken soup with three tomato styles, carrots, celery, zucchini, onion, and shredded chicken. Hearty Dutch-oven soup that feeds a crowd and freezes beautifully.
Minestrina di riso e spinaci is an Italian rice and spinach soup with Arborio rice, garlic, onion, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. A light, brothy Italian soup where the rice adds body without heaviness.
Plump shrimp slathered in a sticky-sweet Cajun sauce with honey, brown sugar, and a kick of cayenne. Ready in 30 minutes and served over fluffy rice, this is weeknight dinner with serious Louisiana soul.
Slow cooker white chicken chili with cannellini beans, green chiles, stewed tomatoes, and a bright kick of lime. Sear it on the stove, then let the crockpot do the rest.
Linguine carbonara with crispy bacon, Parmesan, and a silky egg and cream sauce tossed hot so every strand is coated. A rich, comforting Italian pasta classic.
Felvideki finom nulleves, a hearty Hungarian hare soup from the Upper Highlands with root vegetables, lard-browned liver roux, and rice. Old-country game cookery from the Felvidek region.
Classic veal fricassee with tender poached cubes in a buttery roux sauce, sautéed mushrooms, and white asparagus. A refined European comfort dish served over rice that's worth the slow simmer.
Sliced russet potatoes layered with cheddar cheese and cream of mushroom soup, baked until fork-tender and bubbly. A 5-ingredient side dish that pairs with just about everything.
Classic pasta carbonara: linguine tossed with crisp bacon, raw egg, parsley, and Parmesan. The Roman classic that turns five ingredients into a silky, peppery dinner in 30 minutes.
Gramma Bahrt's salmon piroghi, a hearty double-crust pie layered with stock-cooked rice, flaked salmon, hard-boiled eggs and buttery chives. A Russian-style salmon pie baked golden and glossy.
Meshoui is Moroccan-style roast lamb: a leg rubbed with paprika, garlic and pepper, roasted on a bed of aromatic vegetables, then braised tender in a tomato-spiked pan sauce. Fragrant, fall-apart North African lamb.
Garlic-roasted potatoes tossed with peppery watercress, white wine vinegar, and fresh chives. Crispy, golden potatoes meet fresh greens in a warm salad-style side dish.
Homemade beef foldovers with seasoned ground beef, rice, cheddar, and tomato sauce wrapped in yeasted whole wheat dough. Freezer-friendly and perfect for picnics.
A layered casserole of spiced tomatoes, sweet corn, bell pepper, and onion with breadcrumbs and melted cheese baked until bubbly and golden. The ultimate garden-to-table side dish.
This was a big hit at our house: only a little strip was left along one edge of the casserole! I used nonfat mayonnaise, and bet that nonfat yogurt would work just as well to cut down on fat. I was out of peas, so used corn. And I used leftover chicken instead of turkey. Save this one for a neat way to use up your leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
Pork tenderloin seared and roasted until juicy, served with plums slow-roasted in balsamic, vanilla bean, and rosemary. A bistro-style main that reduces its own pan liquid into a glossy, sweet-tart sauce.
Pasta with red clam sauce made from fresh littleneck clams steamed in white wine and fish stock, then tossed with tomato, basil, and oregano. Light, briny, and ready in 30 minutes.
Layers of tofu ricotta, herb-sautéed zucchini, golden mushrooms, and spinach stacked between artichoke lasagna noodles in a rich spaghetti sauce. A hearty vegan lasagna for 8 that's loaded with vegetables and bakes up bubbling and gorgeous.
A creamy microwave casserole with ground beef, cream cheese, mushroom soup, corn, and pimentos. Rich, cheesy, and ready in under 40 minutes with barely any cleanup.
MacAyo's style beef fajitas marinated in garlic, lime, and oil, then sauteed and rolled into warm tortillas with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. A Phoenix Mexican-restaurant classic at home.
Elegant red wine fruit soup with poached pears, candied orange slices, pineapple, and a crème fraîche finish. A stunning French-inspired dessert layered with star anise, vanilla, and cardamom.
Indian spiced eggplant (baingan bharta style) with cumin seeds, turmeric, coriander, fresh ginger, and cilantro. Roasted until smoky-soft, then simmered with tomato and spices.
Fusilli alla Sorrentina with canned tuna, fresh tomatoes, black olives, white wine, garlic, and fresh mint. A quick Southern Italian pantry pasta.
Homemade pork and turkey sausages or burgers with garlic, paprika, and a hint of ground cloves. Just six ingredients, no casings needed, and three cooking options.
Homemade breakfast sausage patties ground from pork shoulder and bacon, seasoned with sage, mace, coriander, and fresh orange zest. No mystery ingredients, just real pork and bold spice.
Sauteed calves liver with avocado slices in a brown butter, lemon, and white wine sauce with thyme and parsley. An elegant, retro main course ready in 30 minutes.
Pork tenderloin medallions pounded thin, seared golden, and finished in a bright pan sauce of shallots, black pepper, white wine, and fresh orange juice. A 40 minute bistro-style dinner.
Slow cooker chicken cacciatore with two whole chickens braised in tomatoes, red wine, garlic, and Italian herbs. Set it, forget it, and feed a crowd of ten with zero effort.
Lemon-marinated shrimp and thick mushroom slices threaded on picks with a tangy tarragon-Dijon dressing. A low-fat party appetizer ready in 15 minutes.
Leg of lamb Nicoise marinates butterflied lamb in a Provencal paste of anchovy, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and red wine vinegar. Broiled or grilled to a juicy pink center for a Mediterranean dinner.
Tender beef chuck pot roast slow-simmered in a tangy homemade barbecue sauce with ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire. Fork-tender and packed with smoky-sweet flavor.
Iridofu, a Japanese scrambled tofu stir-fry with carrots, onion, roasted sesame seeds, and shoyu. A simple, protein-rich vegetarian dish ready in 20 minutes.
Breaded paprika pork tenderloin sandwiches pounded thin, pan-fried crispy, and served on onion rolls. A homemade take on the Midwest pork tenderloin sandwich with a golden, crunchy crust.
Light linguine tossed in a tarragon-shallot sauce with thinly sliced sea scallops and tender asparagus. A spa-cuisine pasta that delivers restaurant flavor without the heavy cream.
Green garlic chili: a Southwestern-style stew built on whole cloves of mellowed garlic, fresh green chiles, and tangy green tomatoes simmered with tender beef. No beans, no tomato sauce, just deep savory heat.
Fish en escabeche: poached white fish marinated for two days in citrus, olive oil, jalapeños, and olives, then tossed with fresh tomato and avocado. A vibrant Mexican ceviche-adjacent appetizer served on crackers or tortilla chips.
Linguine with canned clams, a fast pantry pasta tossed with garlic sizzled in good olive oil, dried parsley, and black pepper. Ready in about 15 minutes from ingredients you keep on the shelf.
It is a vegetarian burger, all the vegetables mix very well, tasty and healthy.
Vegetarian red bean shepherd's pie with sliced potato layers, garbanzos, red beans, green peas, and bell pepper seasoned with cumin and coriander. A meatless, comforting casserole.
Rich Portuguese chickpea soup partially pureed for creamy body, studded with browned pepperoni, stir-fried spinach, potatoes, thyme, and coriander. A hearty, layered bowl.
Turkey casserole baked in a mashed potato shell with mixed vegetables, cream of mushroom soup, and melted cheddar. A low-fat way to use leftover turkey.