Popcorn with cheese tosses freshly popped stovetop kernels with melted butter and grated Parmesan, then bakes briefly so the cheese sets into a crispy savory coat. Movie night, upgraded.
Potato curry (Aloo Matar) with cumin, mustard seeds, turmeric, coriander, and cayenne, simmered until tender and finished with yogurt and green peas. A classic Indian vegetarian dish with whole spice flavor.
Savory cheese bread with cottage cheese, cheddar and sautéed onions. Quick bread baked in a round pan topped with poppy seeds in 35 minutes.
Pan-fried bass or trout amandine with butter-toasted slivered almonds, thyme, and a squeeze of lemon. A classic French-inspired fish dish done simply.
Stir fried asparagus with mushrooms in a light chicken bouillon sauce thickened with cornstarch. A quick, low-calorie vegetable side dish ready in 20 minutes with bright green, crisp-tender asparagus.
Old-fashioned hand-shaped sugar cookies rolled into rings, scored with a knife, and finished in cinnamon sugar or with sesame seeds. A simple oil-based dough that bakes up crisp and yields about 100 cookies.
Pear buttermilk muffins spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, topped with a crunchy spiced sugar crust. Lemon zest brightens the batter and the chopped pears keep every muffin incredibly moist.
Warm potato salad with a garlic-parsley vinaigrette, nutmeg, and a dash of hot sauce. No mayo, served hot or at room temperature as a versatile side dish.
Round up beef with 10 pounds of round steak strips braised in a tangy ketchup, brown sugar, and red wine vinegar sauce. Feeds a crowd and freezes well.
Lentil pasta sauce: hearty meatless tomato sauce with lentils, oregano, and a kick of hot sauce, perfect for vegan or vegetarian pasta night. Protein-rich alternative to classic meat ragu.
Mom's apple cake loaded with five fresh apples, crushed nuts, and cinnamon in a one-bowl oil batter. No eggs, no butter, and incredibly moist. Swap applesauce for oil for a lighter version.
Chocolate can cake uses the chocolate syrup can as your measuring cup for sugar, flour, oil, coconut, and pecans. One bowl, no precise measuring, and a rich fudgy result.
Lemon-poppy seed muffins bursting with fresh lemon zest and a generous third-cup of poppy seeds. One-bowl batter, ready from scratch in about 40 minutes. Bakery-quality without the bakery.
Indian nut masala paste made from toasted cumin, cardamom, poppy seeds, and peppercorns ground with almonds, garlic, and fresh ginger. Keeps for a month.
Whole wheat peanut butter muffins sweetened with molasses instead of sugar. No eggs, no refined flour. A hearty, nutty muffin with a deep caramel undertone in 25 minutes.
Braised pork shoulder with ground coriander, white wine, new potatoes, and mushrooms. A one-pot Dutch oven braise with warm spice and fork-tender meat.