Chicken almendrado simmers breast halves in a blended sauce of almonds, red chilies, cinnamon, and chicken broth. A Mexican almond-chile sauce with warm spice and subtle heat. Serve over rice.
Easy carrot salad with shredded carrots, fresh herbs, scallions, and a bright lemon-and-safflower-oil dressing. A 15-minute vegan side that brings color and crunch to any plate.
Pan-fried polenta wedges with briny olives and a slow-simmered garlic tomato sauce. A rustic Italian dish that turns simple cornmeal into a crisp golden base for a fragrant herbed sauce.
Your basic burger recipe with ground beef, onion powder, salt, and pepper. The secret is a light touch when mixing and shaping. Overworked meat makes tough, dense patties.
Sea scallops simmered in a spicy fresh tomato sauce with red wine, garlic, and basil, tossed with fettuccine and finished with grated Parmesan.
Venison shortcake with ground venison or elk in a savory mustard-ketchup gravy, piled between homemade biscuit halves. A rustic hunter's meal with from-scratch biscuits.
Westphalian leg of lamb roasted in a buttermilk and vegetable sauce inside an oven bag. A German roasting method that keeps the meat incredibly tender with a tangy pan gravy.
Spicy chicken green chili with tomatillos, fresh green chiles, ground red chile, oregano, and cumin. A Southwestern-style chili simmered 3-4 hours for deep, layered heat.
Dilly casserole bread is a tangy, no-knead yeast loaf made with cottage cheese, dill seed, and onion flakes for a moist, savory crumb baked in a round casserole dish.
Low-fat chicken fajitas with five peppers: red, yellow, green bell peppers plus jalapeno and black pepper. Lime and cumin marinated, served in whole wheat tortillas.
Dairy-free spinach pizza on split pita crusts with a nutritional yeast béchamel, sauteed mushrooms, garlic, and Roma tomatoes. Fast weeknight vegan individual pizzas.
Bean chili built from scratch with toasted cumin and oregano, ground dried ancho or negro chilies, smoky chipotle, and a splash of red wine for depth. A meatless chili with serious heat and layered spice.
Noodles, cabbage, and onions, the classic haluski: tender egg noodles tossed with buttery, golden-browned cabbage and sweet caramelized onions. Humble Eastern European comfort food in one skillet.
Steamed cherrystone clams in a white wine, garlic, and butter broth loaded with a full dozen garlic cloves, scallions, and Italian herbs. A punchy seafood starter served with crusty bread.
New potato casserole with thinly sliced potatoes and onions baked under butter until tender and golden, served with herbed sour cream. Five ingredients and effortlessly simple.
Hungarian cream of spinach soup with a roux-thickened base, pureed spinach, and half-and-half. Garnished with sliced hard-boiled eggs and crispy crumbled bacon.
Chilled avocado soup blends buttermilk, ripe avocado, cucumber, and lime into a no-cook bowl with a green hot-sauce kick. Cold, creamy, and ready straight from the blender for hot-weather lunches.
Linguine with white clam sauce keeps it simple: heavy cream, chopped clams with their briny juice, thyme, and onion salt tossed with hot pasta. A 20-minute weeknight Italian classic.
Chicken cacciatore braised in tomato sauce with onions, garlic, oregano, and bay leaves. A rustic Italian hunter-style chicken simmered tender and served over spaghetti or noodles.
Curried chicken breasts baked in a warm, fragrant curry gravy of onion, garlic, ginger and cinnamon, brightened with a squeeze of lime. The breasts are floured and browned first, then bake gently in the sauce until tender.
Chicken breasts Veronique-style with seedless green grapes: pan-simmered in white wine, orange marmalade, tarragon, and cream. A French bistro classic with a fruit sauce that comes together in 30 minutes.
Fresh tomatillo green sauce with jalapenos, cumin, cilantro, and garlic sauteed in vegetable stock. A low-fat, bright salsa verde for tacos, enchiladas, and grilled meats.
Cucumbers in yogurt with fresh basil, mint, scallion, and garlic. Cool Mediterranean-style cucumber salad or dip for grilled meats and warm flatbreads.
Sesame noodles tossed with linguine, scallions, soy sauce, and toasted sesame seeds. A 5-minute weeknight pasta with nutty sesame oil, fresh cilantro, and a kick of red pepper flakes.
Spicy rice balls made with ground beef, uncooked rice, onion, celery, bell pepper, horseradish, and Worcestershire, baked in a spicy tomato soup sauce. A Southern-style porcupine meatball with serious kick.
Vegan eggplant and rice one-pot meal simmered in vegetable broth with crushed tomatoes, garlic, thyme, and cayenne. Low-fat, filling, and oil-free.
French herb swirl is a yeast bread coiled around a sauteed onion, garlic, and parsley filling. Baked in a fluted tube pan with a poppy seed crust for a savory pull-apart loaf.
Mandarin orange salad tosses crisp iceberg and romaine with sweet mandarin oranges, crunchy sugar-glazed almonds, and a tangy-sweet cider vinaigrette. A potluck classic with the best sweet-and-crunchy contrast.
Vegetarian split pea soup simmered with leeks, carrots, and garlic, then half-pureed for a body that's creamy and chunky at once. Crowned with homemade garlic-butter whole wheat croutons.
Baked Vidalia onions braised in dry Riesling and topped with buttered breadcrumbs and Parmesan. A simple, elegant side dish that turns sweet Georgia onions golden and tender in under an hour.
Tender chicken simmered in a vibrant orange-tomato sauce with raisins, pimientos, and warm spices. This naturally gluten-free fiesta chicken serves up bold flavors over fluffy rice.
Middle Eastern chicken simmered in white wine with saffron, lemon, green olives, and nutmeg. A fragrant one-pot dinner served over lemon rice with bold Mediterranean flavors.
Three bean salad with pinto beans, chickpeas, and steamed green beans in a rice vinegar and lemon dressing with pimentos. Diabetic-friendly, vegan, and served chilled on lettuce.
Turkey chowder with potatoes, carrots, and zucchini in a thyme-seasoned broth thickened with a light roux. A smart way to use leftover turkey beyond the usual sandwich.
Gluten-free pizza with a crispy rice crust made from cooked rice, Parmesan, and egg. Topped with sauteed mushrooms, peppers, and bubbly mozzarella.
Oil-free breakfast hash with brown rice, potatoes, and vegetables seasoned with cumin and soy sauce. A vegan, low-fat morning skillet ready in 25 minutes.
Cream of mushroom soup with nearly two pounds of fresh mushrooms, dry sherry, thyme, milk, and heavy cream. Rich, chunky, and homemade in 40 minutes.
Tropical pineapple-papaya salsa with blanched tomatoes, jalapeno, cilantro, and scallions. A fresh, fruity topping for grilled fish, chicken, or chips.
Shrimp with mango and basil sears turmeric-spiced shrimp and tosses them with ripe mango cubes, scallion greens, and fresh basil. Tropical-bright weeknight dinner.
Freezer pickles made with sliced cucumbers, onions, sugar, vinegar, and celery seed. No canning, no water bath, no special equipment. Just salt, slice, and freeze for bread-and-butter flavor any time of year.
Molded crab dip with cream cheese, cream of mushroom soup, mayonnaise, and Worcestershire sauce. A retro gelatin-set appetizer served cold with crackers.
Shrimp fajitas marinated in soy sauce, lime juice, and cilantro, then sauteed with red and green bell peppers. Wrapped in warm flour tortillas with tomatillo salsa.
Salmon steaks brushed with vermouth butter, orange zest, and lemon juice, topped with sliced potatoes and grilled in foil. Works on the barbecue or in the oven.
Lorraine's red stew fish: West African style fish stew with onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños ground into a deep red sauce, thickened with cornstarch and finished with butter. Spoon over rice or fufu.
Slow-braised shredded beef chuck in a tangy ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard sauce with a kick of hot sauce. A ranch-style crowd-pleaser built for sandwiches.
Grilled flank steak brushed with a homemade chili-honey barbecue sauce made from tomato sauce, vinegar, and garlic. Slice thin across the grain to serve.
Unlike meat stock, vegetable stock doesn't benefit from hours of cooking. After about 40 minutes of simmering, the vegetables have yielded all of their flavor.
Cheddar and cream cheese ball with sherry, ripe olives, and Worcestershire, rolled in dried beef. Make-ahead appetizer that improves with a few days in the fridge.