Salmon lemon penne pairs grilled salmon and roasted red peppers with a bright lemon Alfredo sauce over penne. A weeknight pasta that eats like restaurant food.
Loaded tuna nicoise sandwich on grilled Italian bread with roasted peppers, kalamata olives, capers, and a homemade oregano vinaigrette. A Mediterranean-inspired lunch that eats like a feast.
Kentucky-style burgoo with three meats: stewing beef, pork shoulder, and whole chicken simmered for hours with fresh corn, lima beans, tomatoes, and potatoes.
A savory vegetable stew made with dry lentils, potatoes and a bit of sherry.
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.
Old-school cold redfish mold with boiled red snapper, bell pepper, celery, and a mustard-lemon kick, set in its own fish stock. A Gulf Coast classic served chilled with mayo and crackers.
Cucuzzara is a rustic Sicilian squash bread loaded with sauteed butternut squash, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and onions, baked into golden durum flour loaves. Makes 4 hearty loaves.
End-of-month vegetable soup made with whatever is in the fridge: cabbage, potatoes, carrots, celery, bacon ends, and a bouquet garni simmered in white wine. A frugal, flexible pantry-clearing soup.
Creamy lima bean spread with cumin, garlic, lemon, mint, cilantro and dill. Middle Eastern-inspired dip that's a lighter alternative to hummus.
A hearty soup that can pretty much go with anything else you serve for lunch or dinner.
Make-ahead chicken and wild rice casserole loaded with mushrooms, red bell pepper, celery, and low-fat cheddar. Assemble the night before and bake when you're ready. Feeds a crowd.
Pasta Mexicali is a cold penne salad loaded with black beans, cannellini, corn, red pepper, and cilantro in a cumin-cayenne vinaigrette. Vegetarian, protein-packed potluck stunner.
Baked manicotti stuffed with spinach, shiitake and white mushrooms, cottage cheese, garlic, and red wine-sauteed peppers. Lightened-up Italian comfort food in one dish.
Baked macaroni and cheese loaded with red, yellow, and green bell peppers in a creamy feta cheese sauce with dill and Dijon mustard. Golden breadcrumb topping with a cayenne kick.
Stacked Southwestern tortilla wedges layered with chicken, guacamole, refried beans, salsa, sour cream, and melted cheddar. A fun shareable appetizer or snack.
A quick pasta with sweet red, yellow and green peppers, scallions and a hit of fennel seed, all tossed in olive oil. Light, colorful and meatless, on the table in about 30 minutes.