Gourmet chili: a deeply spiced, meaty beef chili with a secret spoonful of unsweetened cocoa for mole-like richness, plus cumin, paprika, cayenne and green chilies. Beans simmer separately so you can keep them in or on the side.
Tostado quiche with taco-seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, and green chiles baked in a custard-filled pie shell. Topped with fresh guacamole, lettuce, and tomatoes.
Cajun skillet beans with black-eyed peas, the holy trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper, plus tomatoes, thyme, and a pinch of cayenne. A quick, hearty vegetarian Cajun side.
Spinach Parmesan sauteed in butter with nutmeg and freshly grated Parmesan. A classic 5-ingredient Italian side dish ready in 20 minutes.
Sweet raisin sauce for ham or tongue made with brown sugar, currant jelly, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire, cloves, and mace. Make-ahead friendly and ready in 20 minutes.
A one-pot cioppino with fish, shrimp, and clams in a slow-simmered tomato, white wine, and herb broth. Weeknight-friendly with just 10 minutes of prep and pantry-staple seasonings.
Vegan Greek spanakopita rolls from the Peloponnese, with spinach, leeks, scallions, parsley, and nutmeg wrapped in crisp phyllo. No cheese, no eggs, no butter.
Memphis-style dry rub for ribs with paprika, cayenne, green peppercorns, and Jamaican allspice. A 12-spice blend with real heat and smoky depth. No sauce needed.
Create-a-casserole: a customizable baked pasta with your choice of meat, tomato sauce, and cheese. A flexible pantry dinner that uses up leftover cooked beef or chicken in 30 minutes of oven time.
Grilled chicken breasts marinate in red wine, balsamic, garlic and oregano, then sear quick over hot coals. Served on a bitter-sweet trio of radicchio, butter lettuce and Belgian endive with salsa garnish. Mediterranean weeknight grill.
Variation: Peas, hard-cooked eggs, artichoke hearts, olives, pimientos or many other foods may be used in place of the mushrooms. Swiss, Muenster, Monterey Jack, Tilsit. Mozzarella or any other cheese may be substituted for the Cheddar cheese.
Reuben burgers made with ground beef and corned beef, broiled and topped with sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese. All the classic Reuben sandwich flavors in a burger.
Tingal Poblana with slow-simmered shredded pork and beef, chorizo, tomatillos, chipotle, oregano, and marjoram. A rich Mexican stew from Puebla served as a bowl or scooped into warm tortillas.
This fresh salad featuring fall pears is a welcome addition to any table. Save time by using pre-washed baby spinach leaves.
Kalbsschnitzel mit Joghurt: pan-seared veal steaks layered with sliced apples and baked under a creamy yogurt-evaporated milk sauce. A simple German dinner ready in 40 minutes.
Pan-fried crab cakes with dry mustard and egg yolks, served with a creamy tomato dill sauce. Golden-crusted on the outside, tender flaked crab on the inside.
Potato and porcini mushroom gratin baked in cream with shallots, finished under the broiler. A rich, earthy French-style side dish with deep mushroom flavor throughout.
Dried porcini and tomato sauce folds earthy rehydrated mushrooms and their soaking liquid into a garlicky canned tomato base, then tosses it with fusilli. A deep, umami-rich vegetarian pasta dinner.
Cossack beef roast marinated 24 hours in vinegar and spices, then slow-roasted with apple cider, raisins, cabbage, turnips, and carrots. A hearty Eastern European pot roast.
An elegant salad featuring shrimp, enoki mushrooms and blue cheese studded with a fresh made yolk based dressing and a variety of lettuces.
Salmon en papillote steamed in parchment with seared zucchini, crookneck squash, onion, merlot, lemon butter, and Grand Marnier. A 7-minute oven finish for restaurant-style presentation.
Vegetable lasagna layered with zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, and a red wine tomato sauce. Make-ahead and lighter than meat lasagna, with cottage cheese standing in for ricotta.
Authentic Chinese hot and sour soup with cloud ear mushrooms, golden needles, silken tofu, shredded pork, and the signature tangy-spicy-savory broth thickened with cornstarch.
Lamb kebabs marinated in lemon juice, garlic, and mint, threaded with fresh mint leaves and scallions, then grilled over medium-hot heat. Works with beef sirloin too.
Romaine salad with grilled chicken, fresh apricots, mint, and toasted almonds in a dried apricot-mint dressing. A Mediterranean main-course salad where the dressing doubles as the chicken marinade.
Salt-smothered chicken buried in a bed of red-hot rock salt with ginger, tangerine peel, and Szechuan peppercorn marinade sealed in the cavity. An ancient Cantonese technique that steams the bird to silken tenderness.
Authentic Indian garam masala blends black pepper, caraway, cinnamon, coriander, cloves, and cardamom into a robust, fragrant spice mix for curries, braises, and finishing dishes.
Lime and oregano marinated flank steak broiled 10 minutes and sliced thin for tacos. Overnight marinade with garlic and olive oil tenderizes London broil into juicy carne asada.
Curried turkey cutlets simmered in a pineapple-ginger sauce with plump dried apricots, fresh mint, and a cool yogurt dollop. A fast weeknight skillet dinner ready in under 30 minutes.
Sole fillets wrapped around tender carrot strips and topped with buttery herb stuffing, baked until flaky. An elegant fish dinner that looks fancy but takes under 40 minutes.
Smoked salmon canapes on crisp jicama triangles with lime-spiked Neufchatel cheese and cracked black pepper. A light, no-cook appetizer that looks like it came from a caterer.
Classic fettuccine Alfredo with unsalted butter, light cream, freshly grated Parmesan, and a pinch of nutmeg. A silky, rich Italian pasta ready in 20 minutes.
Broccoli with rigatoni in garlic olive oil and fresh basil, simmered with vegetable broth. A simple Italian pasta dish that's vegan-friendly and ready in 40 minutes.
Quick beef stew uses canned vegetables and pre-cooked beef cubes warmed in beef gravy with onion and bay in the microwave. Ready in 15 minutes for a budget-friendly weeknight dinner.
Veau dans le chaudron, a French-Canadian veal pot roast browned in bacon fat with garlic, then braised with whole potatoes and onions. No added liquid needed.
Traditional Scottish haggis from scratch, with toasted oatmeal, sheep heart and liver, suet, and warm spices packed into a stomach casing. The Burns Night centerpiece, served with neeps, tatties, and a nip of whisky.
Herbed tofu-mushroom quiche with fresh dill, thyme, rosemary, and curry powder in a crustless wheat germ base. Vegan, egg-free, and packed with fresh herbs.
Hearty beef and barley soup built on bone-in short ribs for deep flavor, with carrots, celery, cabbage, tomatoes, and quick-cooking pearl barley. Slow-simmered Sunday soup for cold weather.
Crustless quiche in a green chile shell with chorizo sausage, Monterey Jack cheese, and a five-egg custard. Whole green chiles line the pie plate as a gluten-free, low-carb crust alternative with built-in Southwestern heat.
Smoked carnitas: pork shoulder smoked low for three hours, then braised with onions, chilies, cumin, and garlic until the meat pulls apart. BBQ-meets-Mexican with crispy-edged tender bites.
Healthy chicken meatloaf with oats and applesauce instead of heavy binders. Lean ground chicken stays moist while poultry seasoning adds savory depth in just 1 hour.
Beach Party Shrimp Saute stir-fries unshelled shrimp with jalapeño, garlic, onion, and oregano in 10 minutes, finished with fresh lemon or lime juice. A bold, easy seafood appetizer or main.
Grilled chicken salad with red leaf lettuce, juicy orange slices, ripe black olives, and a sharp red wine vinegar dressing scented with garlic and celery. A light, bright Mediterranean lunch in 18 minutes.
Valencian red beans and rice with bell peppers, fresh tomatoes, pimento-stuffed olives, allspice, and cilantro. A one-pot Caribbean-meets-Spanish vegetarian dish.
Curried ground beef casserole with chopped apples, dried apricots, and milk-soaked bread baked until set. Serve with chutney, coconut, raisins, and sunflower seeds.
Jamaican jerk chicken fingers marinated in citrus, then crusted with allspice, thyme, clove, and red pepper. Grilled tender strips with serious island heat.
A tender and juicy pork chops dish made with chicken broth, parmesan cheese and white wine.