Curry chicken salad with seedless grapes in a spiced mayonnaise dressing with cayenne and fruit vinegar. Broiled chicken breast diced and tossed cold with whole grapes.
Layered chalupa dip with mashed avocado, refried beans, taco-seasoned sour cream, chopped tomatoes, scallions, and cheddar cheese. A no-cook Tex-Mex party dip.
Fettuccine tossed with a no-cook tomato, basil, and yogurt sauce. A light summer pasta that skips the cream and comes together while the noodles boil.
Roasting concentrates flavors without adding fat and lends a buttery-soft texture.
Lighter fettuccine Alfredo made with skim milk, reduced-fat cream cheese, and a roux instead of heavy cream and butter. All the creamy Parmesan flavor with less fat.
Savoury mushroom sauce is a rich vegan gravy made from dried porcini extract, tamari, maple syrup, and arrowroot. A gluten-free, dairy-free topping for rice, potatoes, or pasta.
Asian-inspired plum salad dressing made with plum baby food, soy sauce, five spice powder, and garlic. A fat-free, no-cook dressing ready in minutes.
Texas-style barbecue tofu on a bun: frozen-then-thawed tofu crumbled, simmered with onion and garlic, then sauced with barbecue sauce. A vegetarian sloppy joe ready in 30 minutes.
Gnocchi di semolina is gnocchi alla Romana: rounds of rich semolina cooked with milk, butter, parmesan and egg yolk, layered and baked golden. A comforting Roman classic, nothing like potato gnocchi.
Vegetarian meatless balls made from crumbled veggie burgers with sauteed onion, breadcrumbs, soy sauce, and parsley. Pan-fried until browned for spaghetti, subs, or appetizers.
Indoor beef kebabs broiled right in your oven, no grill required. Sirloin cubes soak in a sesame-soy marinade with brown sugar and lemon, then skewer up with mushrooms, zucchini, pepper, and pearl onions.
Lightened cream of cauliflower soup that swaps heavy cream for nonfat dry milk and a touch of flour. Silky, low-fat, and ready in 35 minutes with a whisper of nutmeg and lemon.
Pepper's tuna casserole is a six-ingredient weeknight classic with egg noodles, water-packed tuna, onion, cream of mushroom soup, and a melty cheese top. Pantry-friendly comfort food.
Tampa fish chowder with bacon, fish fillets, diced chicken, and potatoes in a half-and-half base spiced with cumin, ginger, and dill. A Florida twist on classic chowder with Cuban-Caribbean undertones.
Grilled shrimp skewers marinate in olive oil, lemon, ginger, coriander, and red pepper flakes, then cook in 4 minutes flat over hot coals. Bright, herbaceous summer grilling staple.
Heartland corn chowder built on a smoked ham bone broth with pureed vegetables, fresh corn, and milk, topped with crumbled bacon. A thick, creamy Midwest-style chowder.
Herbed chicken mozzarella: chicken breasts shake-and-baked in a Parmesan herb crust, then crowned with chili sauce and melted mozzarella. A 90s casserole with serious herb backbone.
Louisiana-style roasted duck rubbed with a vinegar-salt-pepper paste, stuffed with aromatics, and slow-roasted until tender. A Cajun family recipe with old-school technique and deep flavor.
Chinese family-style shredded beef stir-fried with celery, ginger, chili, and nam yuey in a hot wok. A fast, fiery weeknight dish with layers of savory, tangy heat.
Pfeffernuesse are traditional German spice cookies made with cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, black pepper, rum, and candied lemon peel, finished with a white icing.
A cassoulet is traditionally a rich, hearty stew of various meat (this recipe is vegetarian, but you can add meat if you prefer) and or beans with a mix of starchy and aromatic vegetables and herbs.
Quick, easy and delicious caesar salad is always popular. It goes well with almost all the main course.
Cheesy stuffed cucumbers bake hollowed cucumber halves filled with radish-bread crumb stuffing, topped with Swiss cheese, then set in a savory custard. A vintage vegetable side worth rediscovering.
Crustless carrot and cheddar quiche baked in a water bath for a silky, custard-like texture. Made with skim milk and grated carrots for a lighter take on quiche.
Roasted onion, endive, and orange salad with watercress, spinach, and a Dijon lemon vinaigrette. Balsamic-roasted red onions add caramelized sweetness to this elegant composed salad.
Microwaved artichokes transform into edible bowls filled with tangy yogurt-dill sauce and crowned with tender poached shrimp for an elegant appetizer that looks restaurant-fancy but cooks in 45 minutes.
Pepper your meat loaf with this savory recipe that will find a place in your heart and your tummy.
Pan-fried trout with toasted almonds, lemon, and tarragon. Egg and cream batter creates an extra-crispy coating. Classic French technique ready in 50 minutes.
Salmon scallops pounded paper-thin, flash-cooked in seconds, and served over wilted garlicky spinach with a bright lemon-parsley pan sauce. French bistro technique for sky-high quality dinner.
Spaghettini topped with breaded and fried eggplant strips, tomato sauce, and grated Parmesan. A crispy Italian-style pasta dish with salt-pressed eggplant for zero bitterness.
Grilled beef tenderloin marinated in red wine and cracked peppercorns, served alongside charred vegetable kabobs. Backyard grill dinner with a bold steakhouse-style pepper crust.
Broccoli with roasted red peppers tossed in a quick water saute with sliced garlic and fresh marjoram. A bright, oil-free Mediterranean side that doubles as a warm salad with a squeeze of lemon.
White bean soup with sage: creamy great northern beans simmered with onion, carrot, tomato and fragrant sage in chicken broth. A quick, low-fat soup that's on the table in about 30 minutes using canned beans.
Chicken with forty cloves of garlic braised in olive oil, vermouth, and tarragon under a sealed lid. A classic French dish where the garlic turns soft and buttery enough to spread on bread.
Blue cheese potato salad with red-skinned potatoes, sour cream, scallions, and celery salt. A tangy, creamy potato salad with no mayo, skins on, and bold peppery flavor.
Garden burgers made with ground turkey or beef mixed with shredded carrot, onion, green pepper, and Parmesan. Grilled with a tomato slice melted on top.
Triple cheese pasta with green peas tosses hot rotelle with gorgonzola-butter, plus mozzarella and Fontina that melt into creamy ribbons from the residual heat. Sweet green peas and fresh chives cut through the richness.
Dairy-free onion buns made with soy milk, mustard, turmeric, and wheat germ. Soft, golden homemade burger or hot dog buns with a savory onion flavor built right into the dough.
Salmon pate made with fresh salmon, whitefish, white wine, cream, and warm spices, baked in a water bath until silky smooth. An elegant make-ahead appetizer for crackers or toast.
I love this sour cream scrambled eggs, I used less butter and sour cream, still went very well.
Spiced pork roast pressure-cooked with apple cider, sage, and black pepper into a tender, falling-apart loin in just 30 minutes. The fastest weeknight pork roast that still tastes like Sunday dinner.
Sauteed green beans with garlic, mint, and white vinegar topped with crumbled feta cheese and chopped walnuts. A Mediterranean-style side dish that turns frozen green beans into something special.
Tomato and herb rigatoni with fresh basil, parsley, mint, garlic, and lemon juice tossed with warm pasta. A light, no-cook vegetarian sauce.
A hearty one-skillet supper of ground beef simmered with bulgur wheat, tomatoes, and oregano, finished with Parmesan and parsley. The cracked wheat soaks up the savory broth for a wholesome, budget-friendly dinner.
Sicilian garbanzo stew with chickpeas, potatoes, carrots, fennel seed, and thyme mashed into a thick, chunky vegetarian broth. A hearty Italian peasant stew ready in 40 minutes with no added fat.
Penne with chunky eggplant tomato sauce, garlic, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley. A simple, hearty Italian pasta ready in 45 minutes with no cream or cheese needed.
Crustless individual breakfast quiches bake eggs, milk, cheese, bacon, and torn English muffins right in ramekins. A bed-and-breakfast plated brunch with no pie crust to roll.
Once he perfected his Extra Crispy he had customers who wanted it to be spicy and bold so he created his Hot and Spicy Chicken. Here is his original recipe which has changed a bit in this day and age. It comes frozen and is cooked frozen and not prepared fresh in many stores.