304 country recipes

San Joaquin Glamour Salad stuffs a hollowed cabbage shell with ground cabbage, stewed figs, carrot, pineapple, and whipped cream dressing. A retro Central Valley showstopper from California's fig country.

Felvideki finom nulleves, a hearty Hungarian hare soup from the Upper Highlands with root vegetables, lard-browned liver roux, and rice. Old-country game cookery from the Felvidek region.

Thick, peppery cream gravy made from a butter or bacon fat roux, milk, and freshly cracked black pepper. Ready in 20 minutes and just right for smothering biscuits, fried chicken, or country-fried steak.

Provencal braised beef marinated overnight in red wine with garlic, cloves, allspice, and vinegar, then slow-braised with bacon, carrots, brandy, and orange zest. A deeply flavored French country casserole.

Old-fashioned braised chicken with carrots, celery, onions, and bell pepper in a creamy milk gravy. Country farmhouse cooking at its simplest, feeding a crowd of 12 from one pot.

Golden-browned chicken simmers over chorizo, rice, red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and orange wedges in a white wine and paprika broth. A rustic one-pot Basque Country classic.

Traditional dry salt cure for a 14-pound ham using rough salt, brown sugar, and saltpeter. Includes a 3-week curing process with optional smoking instructions for homemade country ham.

French-style braised duck with olives, bacon, red wine, and Dijon mustard. A rustic country braise where the duck simmers low and slow until fork-tender, served over wild rice.

Frijoles borrachos, drunken pinto beans simmered low and slow in beer and water with bacon drippings, onion, garlic, fresh and pickled jalapenos, and chili powder. Mexican border country comfort food.

Wirsingroellchen are German Savoy cabbage rolls stuffed with ground leftover meat, parsley, and breadcrumbs, baked under a basting of sour cream. A thrifty, nutmeg-warmed classic from the old country.

Garlicky black pepper shrimp and black-eyed peas is Low Country Southern cooking in one skillet: bacon, holy trinity, bay-scented peas, and wine-splashed shrimp finished with cracked pepper.

Louisiana crawfish étouffée smothers tender tails in a buttery trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper with a kick of pepper. Serve over hot rice for Cajun country at its finest.

Liz Yehling's potato pancakes blend grated red potatoes with raw pork sausage, eggs, and a touch of flour. Fried golden and crispy, served with cool applesauce. A hearty country-breakfast classic.

Old-fashioned raisin pie with brown sugar, walnuts, and a hit of orange drink mix in the filling. The double-crust country dessert often called funeral pie for its long shelf life.

Brie gives the creaminess and cheesiness to the sandwiches, sauteed mushrooms are so delicious with the brie. It takes you about 25 minutes, enjoy.

Tender lamb rib chops marinated overnight in red wine, crushed juniper berries, garlic and extra-virgin olive oil, then grilled until charred and smoky. Serve with olives and charred pepper skewers.