10,000 ground recipes

Coffee and pepper crusted T-bone steaks marinated in red wine, soy sauce, and garlic, grilled over coals and served with a reduced wine sauce.

Molasses muffins spiced with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg, studded with raisins. Make-ahead batter keeps in the fridge for fresh muffins anytime.

Yogurt-marinated cumin chicken with turmeric, coriander, and green chile. Indian-style baked chicken that turns weeknight bird into something fragrant and tender. Serve over rice.

Tropical broiled pork chops marinate overnight in pineapple juice, lime, brown sugar, ginger, and warm spices, then broil to juicy perfection in under 10 minutes. Easy island-flavored weeknight dinner.

Deep chocolate cookies spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, made lighter with yogurt instead of butter. Crisp edges with chewy centers at just 41 calories per cookie.

This is not called chicken dopiaza by M. Jaffrey. But last night I was at my favorite Indian restaurant here and I asked the owner what chicken dopiaza was and he told me it was this.

A large batch cured German style sausage from scratch.

Chocolate hippenmasse: thin, crisp German pastry wafers made with almond paste, cocoa, and cinnamon. Spread paper-thin, baked until glossy, and cut or shaped while still warm.

Soy bourbon chicken breasts marinated overnight in a smoky-sweet glaze of bourbon whiskey, soy sauce, and brown sugar, then oven-baked low and slow until lacquered and deeply browned.

Pounded chicken breasts simmer in a quick mole-inspired sauce of cocoa, picante, cumin, and oregano with warm hints of cloves and nutmeg. Bold, spicy, and on the table in 30 minutes.

Stir-fried chicken and tender-crisp broccoli tossed with penne in a creamy Dijon mustard sauce. A lighter weeknight pasta ready in 45 minutes with no heavy cream needed.

"Great on a summer's day with fresh corn and mashed potatoes."

Parkin is a variety of gingerbread, good warming stuff to eat out of doors in cold weather. When I was a child, it was always a firm favourite for the firework party on Bonfire Night each year. This is adapted from my mother's recipe.

The perfect spice cookie. Loaded with flavor with crispy edges and a very chewy center from the molasses and brown sugar.

Tandoori duck marinated in spiced yogurt with cumin, cardamom, and cayenne, then grilled and served over red lentils. Skinned for less fat, the yogurt marinade keeps the meat juicy and tender.

Gazpacho done right: ripe tomatoes, cucumber, and peppers blended smooth, then topped with the same vegetables finely diced for crunch. A no-cook chilled soup with lime, Tabasco heat, and an optional vodka kick.