Pasta with vodka sauce: a buttery cream sauce reduced with vodka, mushrooms, and fresh tomatoes. A restaurant-style Italian classic that uses the alcohol to unlock tomato flavor.
Butternut squash pasta sauce with melted Monterey Jack, vegetable broth, and sun-dried tomatoes tossed with ziti. A creamy, lighter fall pasta without heavy cream.
Chunky beef chuck and Spanish chorizo simmered for 3 hours in a bold, beer-laced chili with plum tomatoes, cumin, and Mexican oregano. No beans in the pot. This is Texas chili done right.
Brown lentils and long grain rice simmered with ghee, cinnamon, turmeric, and fresh green chili. A warming one-pot side dish ready in 45 minutes.
Great northern bean soup simmers white beans with smoked sausage, onions, and garlic for two hours, then mashes to a creamy, hearty bowl. Old-school Southern soup that pairs beautifully with warm cornbread.
Wesley Pitts' award-winning Texas chili with beef chuck, ground pork, beer, mole powder, and masa harina thickening. The legendary Terlingua competition formula.
Cheese tortellini tossed in a creamy walnut pesto with Romano cheese, garlic, and heavy cream, garnished with sliced sun-dried tomatoes. Indulgent and ready in 45 minutes.
Garlicky chicken pieces sauteed in butter with broccoli and red bell pepper, tossed with linguini and finished with lemon and Parmesan. A 30-minute weeknight pasta.
Slow cooker pineapple chicken with Dijon mustard, soy sauce, garlic, and unsweetened pineapple. A low-fat crockpot chicken breast dinner with minimal prep.
Roma tomatoes slow-roasted for three hours with olive oil, garlic, and hot chili until jammy and concentrated, then tossed with spaghetti, parsley, and basil. Named for the volcano and just as fiery.
Shell-on shrimp sauteed in garlic-chili oil, piled over meltingly soft red peppers slow-cooked in Spanish olive oil. Tear off crusty bread, soak it in that rose-colored oil, and feast.
Chinese-style roasted spare ribs (Pei Quot) braised in black bean, soy, honey, and hoisin sauce, then roasted or grilled until sticky and dry. Spicy, sweet, and glazed.
A delicious and refreshing pasta salad is perfect for spring or summer.
Steamed potato salad tossed with green peas, celery, and scallions in a lighter dressing of mayonnaise, yogurt, Dijon mustard, and loads of fresh dill. A bright, tangy side for cookouts and potlucks.
Orzo with marinated portabello mushrooms, simmered in a sundried-tomato and white wine broth with garlic, capers and herbs, then tossed with the orzo. A bold, oil-free vegetarian dinner in under 30 minutes.
Chicken in white wine: floured breasts pan-seared, then simmered in a bright white wine sauce with garlic, bay, and lemon zest, finished with scallions and butter. An elegant, fast 30-minute skillet dinner.