Quick Chinese stir-fried chicken with hoisin sauce, bamboo shoots, ginger, and crushed red pepper. Marinated in sherry and soy for a glossy, savory-sweet glaze that's ready in under an hour.
Crispy deep-fried tofu triangles stuffed with curried tofu, mushrooms, and ginger in wonton wrappers. A fusion appetizer that's part samosa, part wonton, and totally addictive. Makes 30.
Happy family stew braises beef chuck with plum tomatoes, green chilies, cumin, oregano, and Worcestershire for hours into a rich Tex-Mex-leaning beef stew. Served over rice for a one-pot crowd dinner.
Macadamia mandelbrot with orange juice, orange zest, and almond extract, twice-baked into crisp, crunchy cookies. A tropical twist on the classic Jewish biscotti.
Homemade chicken nuggets fried golden in a Parmesan, paprika, and oregano coating. Crispy outside, juicy inside, and miles ahead of frozen. Makes 48 nuggets in just 30 minutes.
Mini blackbottom cupcakes with a fudgy chocolate cake base topped with a sweet cream cheese and chocolate chip filling, cooked in the microwave using paper egg cartons as molds. A vintage retro treat that's quick and fun.
Pasta e fagioli (pasta fazool) with red kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, and vegetables simmered into a thick, hearty Italian soup. Vegetarian comfort food made from dried beans.
Herring stir-fry with fresh ginger, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots finished with lemon juice and zest. A quick, healthy fish dinner ready in under 10 minutes of cooking.
Spiced molasses hermit bars with apple butter, raisins, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. Chewy, warmly spiced, and lighter than traditional hermit cookies.
Baked chicken breasts in a sweet-tangy orange juice sauce with brown sugar, basil, and nutmeg, finished with tender peach or apricot halves. Served over white rice for a fruity one-dish dinner.
Soft honey yeast rolls with a sweet butter-honey-sugar topping drizzled on before baking. No kneading required, just drop spoonfuls of sticky dough into the pan.
Light, pillowy yeasted beignets fried golden and buried under powdered sugar. This overnight dough recipe makes about 5 dozen New Orleans-style French doughnuts.
Bacon-wrapped grilled shrimp marinated in lemon juice, ketchup, garlic, and hot sauce. Jumbo shrimp on skewers with crispy bacon, ready in about an hour.
Classic Louisiana shrimp Creole built on a dark roux with the holy trinity, tomatoes, and bay leaves. Simmered low and slow for deep, soulful flavor, served over rice.
Mashed winter squash roasted until tender, then beaten fluffy with margarine and dusted with cinnamon. A simple, low-fat diabetic-friendly side dish for fall and winter dinners.
No-bean chili with a veal, beef, and pork blend simmered in canned tomatoes with chili powder, cumin, and a splash of red wine vinegar. Texas-style heat in 80 minutes.