Shrimp tossed in a tangy Creole sauce with tomato puree, Worcestershire, hot sauce, mustard, and a hit of orange juice. Light, bold, and ready in 35 minutes.
Tender stewing beef braised in beef broth and soy sauce with green peas and diced pimentos, thickened with cornstarch and served over rice. An Asian-inspired twist on classic beef stew.
Jumbo homemade ravioli with fresh basil-infused pasta dough and a ground veal filling. Giant 4-inch squares served with homemade tomato sauce. A from-scratch Italian pasta project worth the effort.
A verylight side dish, cooking carrots using way is very healthy and nutritious.
Granny's minestrone is a hearty vegan vegetable soup packed with carrots, cabbage, zucchini, leeks and kidney beans in a tomato broth, finished with elbow macaroni. Slow-simmered for deep, comforting flavor.
Cajun oyster pate with pimento-stuffed olives, bacon, hot sauce, and sweet relish blended into a smoky, briny spread. A bold appetizer served chilled on crackers.
Marinating the chicken in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dried thyme and tarragon add great depth to a rice sauce that's smoothed by just a hint of red currant jelly and enhanced with apricots and tawny port. Be sure to use tawny port. With its beautiful amber color and slightly dry flavor, it compliments the apricots. Save your ruby port, which is sweeter and has a deep red wine color, for after dinner.
Quick Chinese-American lo mein using spaghetti, leftover ham, broccoli, mushrooms, bell pepper, and carrots with a soy and BBQ sauce glaze. A budget-friendly fridge-clearing stir-fry.
A meatless kidney bean chili loaded with cashews, raisins, and a splash of apple cider vinegar for tangy depth. Spiced with cumin, chili powder, and oregano for a one-pot vegetarian feast.
Roasted peanuts tossed in curry powder, seasoned salt, and garlic powder, then toasted until fragrant. A 10-minute spiced snack that's wildly addictive. Three ingredients plus peanuts is all it takes.
Quick vegetarian chili with kidney beans, six vegetables, and a tomato-chili base ready in 30 minutes. Packed with carrots, zucchini, peppers, and celery.
Classic Chinese five spice chicken marinated in soy sauce with ginger, star anise, cinnamon, and cloves, then baked until the skin turns golden and fragrant. A simple, aromatic main dish with just 10 ingredients.
Milwaukee-style pork stew braised in beer and chicken broth with caraway seeds, vinegar, and brown sugar. Tender, tangy, and built for cold-weather comfort.
Sopa de elote is a Mexican corn soup blending pureed corn with whole kernels, sauteed onion, fresh tomatoes, garlic, and a finishing splash of cream. Gluten-free, late-summer comfort.
Tabbouli salad with bulgur soaked in hot vegetable stock, fresh parsley, mint, tomato, and a punchy lemon-garlic dressing. A bright, low-fat vegan Middle Eastern side.
Pepper steak for two with thin-sliced round steak, green bell peppers, and tomato simmered in a soy-ginger sauce thickened with cornstarch. Served over hot rice for a complete weeknight dinner.