Raisin walnut stuffing for turkey: plump raisins, toasted walnuts and sage-scented bread cubes bound with butter and chicken broth. Sweet-savory Thanksgiving classic, makes 10 cups.
Thin-sliced flank steak stir-fried with zucchini and scallions in a thick salsa sauce, served in crispy baked tortilla cups topped with melted Monterey Jack. A lighter take on tostadas the whole family will love.
Lean turkey and pinto bean chili with bell peppers, jalapeño, and chili powder. Hearty pot of chili in an hour with cooking spray instead of oil for a lighter base.
A golden, puffy soufflé filled with tender zucchini (or spinach), nutty Gruyère, and fresh parsley. Vegetarian, elegant, and easier than you think. Serve it straight from the oven for maximum wow factor.
Golden deep-fried fish croquettes made with flaked croaker, white sauce, pimento, and green pepper. A classic Southern coastal recipe served with tomato sauce. Crispy outside, creamy inside.
Quick Asian beef and ramen noodle skillet with frozen veggies and ginger, ready in 20 minutes for busy weeknights.
Minestrone Parmesan: Italian vegetable and pasta soup loaded with smoked ham, chickpeas, spinach, and garden vegetables in a rich beef broth. Finished with grated Parmesan.
Cheesy pull-apart bread made with refrigerator biscuits, cheddar, bacon bits, peppers, and pimentos. A 20-minute crowd-pleasing appetizer or side.
Classic moussaka casserole with layers of fried eggplant, spiced ground beef and lamb in red wine tomato sauce, and a rich bechamel with egg yolks and lemon juice. Topped with a golden Parmesan crust.
Gulyassuppe: a Viennese-style goulash soup with paprika, caraway, marjoram, stewing beef, potatoes, bacon, and sliced frankfurters. Hearty Central European soup finished with lemon juice.
Crab or lobster tossed with linguine in a garlicky cream sauce with fresh tomato, Swiss cheese, and Parmesan. A luxurious weeknight pasta ready in just 25 minutes.
With the tons of flavor, you will fall in love this Eastern cheese-tofu, the musrhoom gravy adds the layers of taste. Serve it with rice or egg noodles.
Creole shrimp stew with a peanut-brown roux, the holy trinity of celery, onion, and bell pepper, and tender shrimp simmered just until pink. Served over hot rice.
Chicken breasts stuffed with green chiles, cheddar, and Monterey Jack, rolled in crushed tortilla chips and baked until crunchy. Serve with sour cream and taco sauce for a Tex-Mex feast.
Whipped cream cheese and sour cream folded with caviar, fresh dill, grated onion, and a squeeze of lemon. A 15-minute no-cook appetizer dip that turns any gathering into something special.
Mjaddra is a Middle Eastern comfort dish of mashed lentils and rice with cumin, allspice, and golden fried onions stirred in. A hearty vegan staple served with radishes and salad.
Texas-style venison chili simmered with beer, chili powder, cumin, and masa. No beans, no tomatoes, just slow-cooked wild game heat thickened to a rich, spoonable stew.
Korean sesame ginger marinade with soy sauce, garlic, toasted sesame seeds, and crushed chili. The sugar and soy caramelize into that signature Korean BBQ char on beef, lamb, pork, or chicken.
Classic Mexican sopa de pasta: noodles toasted golden in oil, then simmered in a savory tomato and chicken broth. Everyday comfort food ready in 30 minutes.
Ham and Swiss appetizer pizza on a prebaked Italian bread shell with Dijon mustard and scallions. A 5-ingredient party snack that bakes in under 10 minutes and tastes like a hot ham and cheese sandwich in pizza form.
Liz and Tom's crab boil: hard-shell crabs steamed over a citrus-and-spice broth with potatoes, corn on the cob, bay, and galangal. A summer seafood feast built for a crowd.
Slow-braised pork shoulder shredded and piled into warm flour tortillas with fresh East L.A.-style guacamole, cilantro, onion, and a squeeze of lemon.
Baked portobello mushroom caps stuffed with sauteed shiitakes, corn, pine nuts, and crumbled bacon, then topped with eggs and roasted until set. A stunning low-carb brunch plate.
Halibut stir-fry with asparagus, mushrooms, and tomato in sesame oil, soy sauce, and fresh ginger. A lean, high-protein seafood dinner ready in 30 minutes.
Hearty from-scratch black bean soup simmered with carrots, celery, and bright lemon zest, then pureed velvety smooth. A soul-warming bowl that feeds a crowd!
Low-calorie broccoli omelet with cottage cheese and fresh herbs, started on the stovetop and finished in the oven. A high-protein breakfast that stays light.
Classic Southern red beans and rice simmered low and slow with smoked beef sausage, garlic, and bell pepper. A stick-to-your-ribs one-pot meal ready to ladle over fluffy rice.
Silky cucumber soup brightened with lemongrass, spinach, and cilantro. Serve it warm or chilled for a light, fragrant starter that comes together in 40 minutes.
A clever sloppy joe twist that swaps the usual sauce for chicken gumbo soup, mustard, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Tangy, saucy ground beef sandwiches ready in 40 minutes.
Ginger-garlic shrimp stir-fries shell-on jumbo prawns in a hot wok with fresh ginger, garlic and scallions. A 15-minute Chinese restaurant-style dish where the shells stay on for flavor.
Creamy ground beef and egg noodle skillet made with cream of mushroom soup, cream of cheddar, and sour cream. Budget-friendly Midwest comfort food on the table in 40 minutes.
Chinese steamed salmon steaks with fermented black bean sauce, fresh ginger, and scallions, finished with a sizzling hot-oil pour. Classic Cantonese fish done restaurant-style.
Slow-roasted beef tenderloin paired with wine-simmered mushrooms and zesty Texas Caviar made with black-eyed peas, cilantro and picante sauce. A Lone Star showstopper that feeds a crowd.
Oysters Bienville baked on the half shell with a rich cream sauce of shrimp, mushrooms, white wine, green onions, and Parmesan. A classic New Orleans appetizer that's worth every minute.
Cincinnati chili: a thin, fragrant ground beef sauce spiced with cinnamon, allspice, and cumin, ladled over spaghetti and topped with shredded cheddar, raw onion, and oyster crackers. The Ohio classic.
Slow cooker Tucson-style chili with ground beef, pinto beans, green chiles, jalapeños and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Classic Southwestern crockpot chili for a crowd.
New Yorker pita sandwich stuffs warm pita pockets with sauteed chicken, peppers and onion in saucy beans, zipped up with horseradish, plus lettuce and tomato. A fast, hearty handheld lunch or dinner.
Spinach and three-cheese stuffed manicotti with sautéed mushrooms, baked in spaghetti sauce until bubbly. No-boil shells make this Florentine-style pasta a breeze.
Loaded baked beans built from two cans of beans simmered with peppered bacon, anaheim and hot chiles, garlic and a trio of fresh herbs. A smoky, sweet-and-spicy side that turns canned beans into the star of the cookout.
Hearty beefy quiche loaded with browned ground beef, onion, and eggs bound with tomato soup in a flaky pie crust. A rustic, no-cream quiche that serves up old-school comfort.
Beef chuck stew braised with tequila, bacon, chickpeas, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro. A Southwestern-style one-pot stew with smoky depth and a tequila kick.
Bean-free turkey chili slow-cooked overnight with cocoa, cinnamon, and cumin for deep, complex flavor. A dump-and-go crockpot recipe using turkey thighs and fresh jalapeños.
Classic Southern she crab soup with crab roe, claw meat, sherry, cream, and egg yolks in a rich fish and chicken stock base. Charleston's most iconic seafood soup, silky and luxurious.
Catch your family's attention with this scrumptious salmon dish made with long grain rice, fresh basil and chopped scallions.
Moroccan lamb stew with chickpeas, sweet raisins, slivered almonds, and warm spices (cinnamon, allspice, cayenne). Tender lamb simmered to spoon-soft over fluffy couscous.
Javanese pork satay skewers marinated in a peanut butter, garlic, soy, and brown sugar paste, then grilled over hot coals until smoky and caramelized. Indonesian street-food classic at home.
Classic chicken pot pie with fluffy biscuit topping instead of pastry. Creamy mushroom gravy, tender chicken, and peas and carrots under a golden biscuit crown. Simple comfort food done right.
Buttery wild rice layered with sauteed oysters and smothered in a creamy mushroom sauce spiked with hot sauce. A Southern casserole that steals the spotlight at any holiday table.