Homemade Italian seasoned bread crumbs with Parmesan, oregano, garlic, parsley, and onion. Mix once and freeze for up to 6 months of ready-to-use coating and topping.
Whole wheat spaghetti with a garlicky quick meat sauce built on a proper onion-carrot-celery base. Lean ground beef and crushed tomatoes make a weeknight pasta that eats like a weekend ragu.
Grilled beef kabobs marinated overnight in soy sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire, and mustard with mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, and onion. Bold flavor, hot off the grill.
Greek lemon soup (avgolemono) with shredded chicken breast, rice, and a silky egg-lemon broth. A classic comfort soup thickened with tempered eggs for a creamy, tangy finish.
Vegetable stew with potato, green beans, yellow and green peppers, and tomato simmered in chicken broth with fennel seed. A light, Weight Watchers-friendly one-skillet side.
Turkey Creole simmers cooked turkey with tomatoes, onion, celery, bell pepper, and chili powder in the slow cooker. A dump-and-go post-holiday meal served over rice for six.
Toasted cumin and fennel seeds bring the delicious Indian tangy flavor into the sauteed chicken and fresh asparagus, serve it with rice or quinoa.
Vegetarian roasted bell peppers stuffed with sauteed mushrooms, pine nuts, olives, and fresh marjoram in a homemade tomato sauce, topped with Parmesan. A colorful, hearty meatless main.
My take on this classic Italian belly warming soup.
Green bell peppers stuffed with seasoned mashed potatoes, sauteed onions, red pepper, and chives, baked in tomato sauce. A vegetarian stuffed pepper that's hearty and satisfying.
Spicy Spam kabobs grilled with pineapple chunks wrapped in snow peas and red bell pepper, marinated in a lemon-thyme-oregano sauce with red pepper flakes. Served over rice for a fun, retro cookout meal.
Cucumber dill dip with cream cheese, mayonnaise, fresh dill, scallions, lemon juice, and hot sauce. A cool, creamy party dip with crunchy cucumber pieces throughout.
Senate bean soup with navy beans, smoked ham hock, potatoes, and an onion pique, half-pureed for a creamy-chunky texture. The famous US Capitol dining room recipe.
Use this creamy dip on a vegetable dip or as a companion with tortilla chips.
Sweet corn relish simmered with tomatoes, green pepper, jalapeno, brown sugar, and dill vinegar. A bright, tangy condiment for grilled meats and burgers.
Texas-style chunky chili made with diced beef chuck, no beans, simmered low for 2 hours with chili powder, cumin, jalapeno, and tomatoes. Bold, beefy, and authentic.
Thai cucumber salad (ajad) with quick sweet-vinegar dressing, paper-thin onion, fresh red chile, and crunchy roasted peanuts. The classic 10-minute side for satay and grilled meats.
Quick, easy, tasty and healthy. It's a light and delicious salad that can be accompanied with any main course.
Velvet corn soup is a classic Chinese egg drop soup with creamed corn, chicken broth, fresh ginger, and dry sherry, thickened with cornstarch and swirled with frothy egg whites.
Greek-style shrimp baked with crumbled feta cheese over a slow-cooked tomato and white wine sauce. Served over angel hair pasta for a Mediterranean weeknight dinner.
Chicken cheddar tortilla pizzas crisp corn tortillas in oil, then top them with seasoned chicken, tomato, onion, green pepper, pizza sauce, and melted cheese. A Tex-Mex pizza in 25 minutes.
Cheesy ham poof casserole with six eggs, three cheeses, chopped ham, and scallions baked until puffed and golden. A savory egg souffle-style brunch dish that rises dramatically in the oven.
Spicy black bean soup built on sautéed onion, garlic, and jalapeño with cumin and chili powder. A 35-minute one-pot vegetarian weeknight dinner, finished with lime and cilantro for a bright Tex-Mex kick.
Is the barbecue broken? Don't worry, try this easy crockpot recipe that will have you enjoying every last bit of it.
Japanese steakhouse-style ginger dressing with sesame oil, rice vinegar, and fresh ginger. Blender-easy salad dressing ready in 5 minutes for restaurant flavor at home.
Smoky eggplant soup with fire-charred eggplant, tomatoes, onion, garlic, fresh basil and oregano, simmered with chicken stock and finished with grated Parmesan. Deep Mediterranean flavor, rustic elegance.
Endive, beet, and red onion salad with a Dijon mustard and red wine vinegar dressing. A vibrant French-style salad with earthy beets, bitter endive, and sharp onion.
Yellow split pea soup with salt pork: dried peas quick-soaked and simmered with clove-studded onion, salt pork, marjoram, and thyme. Classic Scandinavian-style pea soup tradition.
Skinny chili: leaner microwave chili with ground beef, tomatoes, red pepper, and a classic cumin-oregano-chili-powder spice base. Fast weeknight chili ready in about 20 minutes, no stovetop required.
Goan chicken curry with dry-roasted whole spices, toasted fresh coconut, garlic-ginger paste, and green chilies. An authentic West Indian recipe with layered, aromatic flavors.
Cold cucumber pasta salad in a sweet vinegar dressing with mustard, parsley, and sliced onion. A tangy, refreshing no-mayo summer side dish perfect for cookouts.
Pureed asparagus soup with a homemade asparagus stock, leeks, shallots, white miso, and blended tofu for creaminess. A dairy-free, vegan soup that uses every part of the asparagus for maximum flavor.
Braised fennel stew with caramelized pearl onions and carrots simmered in chicken broth. A French-inspired vegetable side with anise-sweet fennel, browned butter, and natural sugars.
Oven-baked spare ribs in a tangy homemade barbecue sauce with ketchup, lemon juice, brown sugar, vinegar, and Worcestershire. Fall-off-the-bone tender after 2.5 hours.
Salsa verde, a Mexican-style green salsa blended from tangy tomatillos, fresh cilantro, onion and serrano chile. A bright, no-cook tomatillo salsa ready in minutes for tacos, eggs and chips.
Chicken in silky almond sauce with yogurt, cardamom, coriander, and slivered almonds pureed into a rich Mughlai-style gravy. A fragrant Indian chicken korma that improves overnight.
Baked and pan-fried falafel made with chickpeas, fresh parsley, cumin, and coriander, bound with soaked bread. Crispy outside, tender inside. Vegetarian and flavorful.
Fresh green tomato and hot pepper salsa: firm, tart green tomatoes diced with ripe tomatoes, red onion, garlic, chilies and cilantro. No cooking required, just mix and let it rest. A zippy way to use end-of-season green tomatoes.
Curried turkey on rice: leftover roast turkey simmered in a creamy curry sauce with apple and onion, served over brown rice. A 30-minute weeknight curry built for the day after Thanksgiving.
Company ham roasted on a bed of onions and apples, rubbed with thyme, cinnamon and marjoram, basted with sherry and beef broth. A holiday-ready centerpiece without a sweet glaze.
Basic Italian tomato sauce with peeled plum tomatoes, garlic, basil, a splash of red wine, and a knob of butter for a silky, restaurant-style red sauce in 40 minutes.
Chicken with peppers and onions, boneless thighs seared golden and folded into sweet bell peppers cooked down slow with a splash of red wine vinegar and a pinch of sugar. A one-skillet weeknight classic.
Cheddar toss and heat popcorn with melted butter, sharp cheddar, garlic salt, and onion salt. Oven-warmed until the cheese melts into every kernel.
Corn and lima bean stew with a polenta crust, smoky chipotle, cumin, and fresh vegetables baked casserole-style. A hearty vegetarian Southwestern stew topped with chile-spiked cornmeal.
Curry garlic dip whisks mayonnaise with chili sauce, curry powder, garlic, grated onion, and Worcestershire for a make-ahead party dip. Doubles as a sauce for cold shrimp, steak, or lamb.
Chilled cream of cucumber soup with sour cream, fresh dill, and parsley. A cool, refreshing summer starter that's better made the day before. No fuss, no stove time after dinner.
Deep fried whole turkey injected with a buttery Cajun-style marinade of garlic, onion, Worcestershire, taco sauce, and white wine. Crackling skin, juicy meat, bold Southern flavor in every bite.