10,000 carob recipes

Six pounds of cubed beef browned in suet, simmered in beef stock with a full cup of chili powder and crushed cumin seeds, thickened with masa harina. No tomatoes. No beans. This is Texas Red in its purest form.

Sunday chicken revisited folds whole chicken breasts skin-out and skewers them into bundles for even roasting, finished with a pan-drippings gravy.

Dill mustard sauce stirs sweet prepared mustard with sour cream and a heap of fresh dill. A no-cook 3-ingredient classic for salmon, smoked fish, and roast pork.

Four-ingredient broccoli dip with sour cream, ranch-style dressing, and a grating of nutmeg. Ten-minute no-cook party dip that tastes surprisingly fresh despite the frozen broccoli shortcut.

Saucy scalloped beef pie with a ground beef or turkey meat crust filled with scalloped potatoes, mushrooms, and Parmesan. Upside-down shepherd's pie concept topped with chili sauce.

Pollo alla Diavola, the devil's chicken from Tuscany. Chili-infused olive oil marinated chicken halves grilled hot over charcoal until deeply charred.

Freezer-mix lasagna layers cottage cheese, mozzarella, Swiss, and Parmesan over a make-ahead beef-tomato sauce base. A retro time-saver dinner pulled from the freezer.

Huevos en rabo de mestiza, Mexican eggs poached in a tomato and green chile broth topped with melted Monterey Jack. Traditional vegetarian desayuno, ready in 30 minutes.

Cream of cheese soup with sharp cheddar, white wine, and half-and-half. Silky, boozy, and ready in half an hour with a paprika-dusted finish and crouton crunch on top.

Shrimp curry made with freshly ground whole spices, tomato, ginger, and finished with lime juice. A South Indian-style shrimp curry served with rice and mango chutney.

Pickled shrimp boiled in crab boil spices, layered with onion and bay leaves, and marinated 24 hours in a tangy vinegar-celery seed dressing. A classic Southern cocktail appetizer.

Cajun seafood creole with shrimp and crab simmered in a basil-laced tomato sauce with cayenne and white pepper. Spooned over peppery rice for a Louisiana classic that's ready in 40 minutes.

Southern spareribs marinated in tomato juice, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire, and dry mustard, then oven-baked covered until fall-off-the-bone tender. No grill needed.

Texas-style chili con carne with diced beef, whole red chili pods, paprika, and a cornmeal-flour thickener. No beans, no tomato, just deep meaty heat from a long slow simmer.

Thai-style stir-fried spinach with sliced beef, fish sauce umami, and fresh tomato wedges. Quick wok cooking keeps greens vibrant and meat tender for weeknight Asian dinners.

Stuffed poblano chiles filled with ripe olives, ricotta and Monterey Jack, baked and finished with a quick olive mole sauce of tomato, cumin, chili powder and beef stock.