Marinated bean salad with five beans (yellow, green, kidney, lima, garbanzo) and bell peppers tossed in a sweet-and-tangy brown sugar vinaigrette. Make ahead for picnics, potlucks, and barbecues.
Vegetarian tamale pie with a golden cornmeal crust wrapped top and bottom around a spiced bean-and-barley filling loaded with corn, ripe olives, and sweet red pepper. A hearty meatless main baked until the cheese bubbles.
Sweet and sour pork the proper way: marinated pork cubes battered and deep-fried crisp, then tossed in a homemade sweet-sour sauce with peppers, carrots and lychees. Crunchy, glossy and far better than takeout.
Turkey pasta salad with corn, zucchini, and picante-creamy garlic dressing. A Tex-Mex spin on leftover turkey, ready in 20 minutes and better after a chill in the fridge.
Spinach fettuccine with bay scallops, broccoli, red pepper, and mushrooms in a light white wine sauce. Quick seafood pasta with sweet scallops, ready in 45 minutes.
Asian style sichuan beef with garlic, shallots, snow peas and red bell peppers.
Asian-style microwave cod rolled with sesame paste, served on bean sprouts with snow peas, bell pepper, soy sauce, and fresh ginger. Ready in under 10 minutes.
Szechuan noodle salad with fettuccine in a spicy peanut sauce made with ginger, garlic, chili paste, and sesame oil, surrounded by julienned vegetables and ham.
Vegan-friendly tofu vegetable pot pie with zucchini, peppers, Swiss chard, corn, peas, and carrots under a golden biscuit crust. Hearty and plant-based.
Thai-style basil chicken with chicken breast chunks, bell pepper, chili pepper, garlic, and fresh basil in a quick tomato juice pan sauce spiced with cumin, cinnamon, and ginger. Lean and fast.
Three bean salad with chunky salsa-lime dressing, kidney, black, and chickpeas tossed with red pepper, scallion, and carrot. A protein-packed make-ahead picnic side.
One-pot beef and corn casserole with rice, peppers, leeks, and carrots simmered in beef broth. Cubed beef browned then slow-cooked with vegetables until tender.
Turkey teriyaki stir-fry with snow peas, red bell pepper, water chestnuts, and celery. A lean, colorful Asian-inspired dinner ready in 20 minutes.
Vegetarian mushroom and spinach lasagna with ricotta, Swiss, Parmesan, and a roasted red pepper sauce with balsamic vinegar. Lighter than traditional lasagna.
Lasagna rolls with tomato-fennel sauce wrap mushroom-and-tofu filling inside lasagna noodles, then bake in a sweet fennel-spiked tomato sauce with mozzarella. A lighter, vegetarian take on baked pasta.
Louisiana-style rice and oyster dressing with chicken livers, the Holy Trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper, plus Worcestershire and cayenne. A Southern Thanksgiving dressing that goes beside the bird, not inside it.