10,000 fay fay recipes

Hearty kabocha squash chowder with smoky bacon, sweet bell pepper, and fresh thyme. Chunks of golden squash thicken the broth as they soften. Topped with smoked almonds for crunch.

Tingal Poblana with slow-simmered shredded pork and beef, chorizo, tomatillos, chipotle, oregano, and marjoram. A rich Mexican stew from Puebla served as a bowl or scooped into warm tortillas.

New England-style fish and clam chowder with fresh corn, potatoes, pork fat, white wine, and light cream. Loaded with herbs like thyme, sage, marjoram, and rosemary.

Light pumpkin praline cheesecake: low-fat cottage cheese stands in for cream cheese, wheat germ replaces graham crumbs in the crust, and pumpkin pie spice carries the flavor. Topped with maple-drizzled pecans.

Roasting concentrates flavors without adding fat and lends a buttery-soft texture.

Seafood enchiladas with a dual-sauce finish: tangy tomatillo salsa verde on top and a cilantro-cumin cream sauce underneath. Stuffed with crab, Mexican cheese, and cream cheese.

Lamb loin wrapped in puff pastry with a pistachio and chestnut puree stuffing, served with a juniper-and-thyme red wine reduction. A showstopper main course for special occasions.

Light and airy buttermilk chocolate chip Bundt cake made with whole wheat pastry flour, whipped egg whites, and a glossy chocolate drizzle. A lighter take on a classic.

Hearty pinto bean and ham soup simmered low and slow with a bold herb blend of cumin, oregano, rosemary, and chili powder. A splash of sherry at the end adds warmth and depth. Pure comfort in a bowl.

Thai seafood chili layered with red Thai chili paste, dry red wine, clam juice, and Italian tomatoes. Loaded with clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, and white fish. A make-ahead seafood stew with serious heat.

Four-cheese manicotti stuffed with ricotta, fontina, mozzarella, and Parmesan in a homemade tomato sauce. From-scratch Italian comfort food baked until bubbly.

A deeply flavored beef stew braised in Burgundy wine and rich stock with carrots, potatoes, rutabaga, mushrooms, and caramelized tomato paste. Thickened with a dark roux for velvety body.

Hearty black bean cassoulet soup loaded with three kinds of sausage, a meaty ham bone, cumin, oregano, and a splash of dry sherry. Feeds a crowd of 16 with a sour cream finish.

Rustic seafood soup simmered in a tomato, white wine, and herb broth with crab, shrimp, and scallops. Low-fat, high-protein, and ready in about 30 minutes.

Curried whole chickpeas (chana) simmer in a freshly ground spice blend of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and cumin with ginger, chilies, and tomato. Authentic Indian vegetarian curry.

Creole or red jambalaya includes tomatoes while the Cajun style does not. Either way, it is a spicy and robust dish that epitomizes the soul of New Orleans. Here's my recipe for Cajun style jambalaya.