19 karen recipes

I use crushed Ritz crackers instead of bread crumbs and add 2/3 cup of shredded sharp Cheddar. A simple gravy to go along with the meatloaf can also be made using another packet of soup mix, 2 Tbs. flour and 2 cups of cold water. Simmer until thickened.

Vegan pumpkin soup with coconut milk and a hint of galangal for warming Southeast Asian flavor. Smooth, dairy-free, and high in fiber, this pureed soup is silky comfort in a bowl.

Karen's pumpkin pie uses fresh roasted pumpkin, heavy cream, brown sugar, warm spices, and a splash of whiskey for the richest holiday pie. From-scratch Thanksgiving classic.

Banana bread loaded with chocolate chips, raisins, and chopped nuts in a moist oil-based loaf. A retro family recipe stuffed with extras, perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Cream cheese dip with crumbled bacon, green olives, Parmesan, and hot sauce. Shape it into a cheese ball or serve as a dip with wheat crackers. No cooking required.

Bold brisket marinade paste with Szechuan peppercorns, garlic, paprika, lemongrass oil, dry mustard, and red wine. Score the meat, rub it in, and marinate for several days for deep flavor penetration.

Fried rainbow trout with a seasoned cornmeal-flour crust, flavored with lemon thyme, paprika, and garlic. Double-dredged and chilled for an extra crispy coating.

Zucchini bread with applesauce instead of oil, raisins, and cinnamon, baked into 2 moist loaves. A lighter zucchini bread recipe that uses applesauce to replace oil without sacrificing texture.

Creamy chicken spinach linguine in a Parmesan cream sauce with sundried tomatoes, pine nuts, and fresh basil. Golden floured chicken and wilted spinach make this a restaurant-style, Tuscan-inspired pasta dinner.

Slow cooker baked beans with bacon, Rotel tomatoes, green chiles, dark brown sugar, and garlic. Cooked 12 to 14 hours in a crock pot for deep, smoky-sweet flavor.

Karen's meatless chili with jalapenos, five tablespoons of chili powder, molasses, nutritional yeast, and apple cider vinegar. Vegan, bold, and deeply spiced.

Slow cooker BBQ beef sandwiches with shredded ground beef simmered all day in a homemade sauce of tomato, brown sugar, mustard, and BBQ spice. Pile it on rolls with cheese.

Layered chicken casserole with chicken-flavored rice, broccoli, mushrooms, and cream of mushroom soup, topped with cheddar and seasoned breadcrumbs. One pan dinner.

Howard Karten's salsa is a Mediterranean-leaning chunky tomato dip: peeled tomatoes, red onion, black olives, cumin, garlic, oregano, and red wine vinegar. No chiles, no cilantro, all flavor.

Three-ingredient chocolate peppermint mints made with chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and mint extract. No baking, no candy thermometer needed.

No-bake crispy rice squares sweetened with rice syrup instead of marshmallows, bound with almond butter and tahini, studded with chocolate chips, almonds, and coconut. Vegan-friendly.