10,000 card low recipes

Slow-braised beef marinated in chili-lime-cumin paste, shredded and loaded into taco shells with corn, olives, and sharp cheddar. A two-day taco project that makes 20 and earns every minute.

A lighter cheese ball made with Neufchatel, reduced-fat cheddar and Swiss, spiked with horseradish and Dijon mustard. Rolled in fresh parsley and served with crackers. No cooking required.

Start a party with your shrimp with this delicious recipe that uses clam juice, beer and hot pepper sauce.

Creamy potato ham soup thickened with a butter-flour roux and milk. A simple, comforting soup with diced potatoes, celery, onion, and ham.

Sri Lankan omelette, a thick, savory egg pancake studded with onion, green chili, and curry leaves, stabilized with a teaspoon of cornstarch for that firm pancake-like bite. Ready in 15 minutes.

Chinese chicken with cashews stir-fried in a wok with green pepper, water chestnuts, and hoisin imperial sauce. Velveted chicken stays silky and tender.

Turning now to cooking with cheese, here's a recipe for a yummy spinach and cheese soufflé. This recipe comes from Lynne Kaplan, a chef who owns the Victoria House Bed & Breakfast in Spring Lake, NJ. For a gourmet B&B check them out at victoriahouse.net.

Japanese gyoza pot stickers filled with ground beef, cabbage, mushrooms, ginger, and sesame oil. Pan-fried until crispy, then steam-finished. Served with a soy-chili sesame dipping sauce.

Thin salmon escalopes grilled in barely a minute and served in a frothy champagne and chive cream sauce. An elegant, restaurant-style dish that cooks fast yet looks dinner-party special.

Creamed spinach enriched with dried porcini mushrooms, heavy cream, and egg yolk. The mushroom soaking liquid adds deep, earthy flavor to this classic steakhouse side dish.

Crispy battered shrimp deep-fried until golden and tossed in a spicy-sweet sauce with garlic. This Chinese restaurant favorite is ready in 40 minutes for a crowd-pleasing dinner.

German beefsteaks (Frikadellen) made with ground beef bound by a soaked bread roll for impossibly tender, juicy patties. Pan-fried and crowned with golden onion rings, this is honest German home cooking at its best.

Middle Eastern-style lamb hand pies with pine nuts, mint, and lemon zest baked in biscuit dough. Served with a cool minted yogurt dipping sauce.

Lean chicken breasts on a bed of spinach, smothered in a creamy Swiss cheese sauce with caraway seeds and a kick of hot sauce. A high-protein, low-fat dinner ready in under an hour.

Impossible turkey pie with Bisquick that forms its own crust as it bakes. Leftover turkey, Swiss cheese, and mushrooms in a savory egg custard. Great for using up holiday turkey.

These tasty treats made out of rich chocolate and almonds will have you wishing you made more!