12 general recipes

General Chua's chicken with oil-blanched pieces stir-fried with dried chili pods, ginger, garlic, and a tangy soy-vinegar-sherry sauce. An authentic Chinese-American classic done right.

General Tsao was a real person, general and poet who lived in China 155-220AD.

Blue cheese potato salad with red potatoes, yogurt, buttermilk, and scallions. A lighter, tangier twist on classic potato salad with no mayonnaise.

I think homemade foods are generally healthier and better taste than store-bought. I sprouted some mung bean sprouts at home for the second time. Made this salad the first thing this morning after I got up...

I can't believe how good these are! I generally hate carrots, even though I love most vegetables and eat them every day. I've been looking for a way to cook carrots that would allow me to add them to my diet. This is it! Thanks so much for posting this wonderful recipe!

A classic combination of fine herbs for general purpose use.

Vodka can be made from a variety of grains. Barley and wheat are the most common but corn and rye can be used as well. It can also be made from potatoes and beets. Grain vodkas are generally considered to be the best.

This relish is based on a prize-winning English recipe of more than a generation ago. It is less sweet than traditional chutneys; most of its sweetness comes not from sugar, but from apples, dates, and parsnips. I generally use Winesap apples but any well-flavored, crisp eating apple will do.

Paneer is a fresh cheese with plenty of texture and protein. In this traditional northern Indian dish, Paneer is combined with green peas in a spicy tomato-ginger sauce. Fresh Paneer is quite crumbly, so it is generally cut into cubes and sauteed until golden before combining with other ingredients. For variety, try adding some finely minced fresh cilantro and a little freshly ground black pepper to the mixture before cubing and frying. If you do have any left over, serve it warm in whole wheat pita bread topped with sliced tomaotes and crunchy red onions.

Herman starter, the friendship sourdough-style yeast and milk starter that bakers have been passing along for generations. Mix once, feed every five days, and share cups with friends or bake into coffee cakes and breads.

Laufabrauð (Icelandic snowflake bread): paper-thin rounds of dough decorated with intricate cut-outs, fried crispy in hot lard. A Christmas tradition from the Westfjords going back generations.

Banana cream pie with sweetened condensed milk filling, fresh banana layers, and a cloud of whipped cream. The classic Eagle Brand recipe that's been winning potlucks for generations.