2,500 leaf recipes

Homemade lamb stock from leftover leg-of-lamb bones simmered with celery, carrot, onion, tomato, and herbs. The kitchen-fundamental that turns a roast carcass into the base for stews, soups, and sauces.

Crockpot cooked chicken simmers chicken breasts with bay leaf, parsley, garlic, and onion until tender. The hands-off way to make shredded chicken for casseroles and meal prep.

Greek fish baked in grape leaves with lemon-thyme-fennel marinade and anchovy butter. Whole small fish wrapped and oven-baked for moist, herbed, Mediterranean-style flesh and dramatic presentation.

Homemade turkey stock from giblets, neck, and wing tips simmered with onion, garlic, bay leaf, and herbs. The Thanksgiving gravy foundation that turns the bird's offcuts into liquid gold.

Roast rack of lamb under a crisp mustard-and-herb breadcrumb crust of parsley, rosemary and garlic. An elegant medium-rare centerpiece that looks impressive but comes together simply.

Kimmel soup, a traditional Jewish caraway seed soup with egg dumplings and a paprika roux base. Simple, warming, and deeply aromatic from toasted caraway.

Roasted turkey with fresh sage leaves tucked under the skin and rosemary, stuffed with aromatic vegetables. A low-fat, herb-forward holiday bird with minimal seasoning and maximum flavor.

Roasted Cornish hens stuffed with cherry tomatoes, fennel, fresh basil, and garlic, served with butter-soft French roasted garlic bulbs.

A succulent and hearty dish that can satisfy any meat lovers' hunger!

Grilled lamb burgers with bulgur wheat, fresh mint, allspice, and red wine. Mediterranean-style patties served in pita bread with cucumber and yogurt.

Beef tenderloin with morels and tarragon-Marsala sauce pan-sears filets and finishes them in a cream sauce built on earthy morels, sweet Marsala, and anise-tinged tarragon. Restaurant-plate dinner without the prix fixe.

Easy runzas made with crescent roll dough, ground beef, cabbage, and onion soup mix. A shortcut version of the classic Nebraska meat-and-cabbage pocket.

Columella salad: an ancient Roman-inspired herb salad with feta, fresh mint, cilantro, parsley, and scallions, dressed with vinegar, olive oil, and chopped walnuts. Based on a Roman moretum.

French country chicken: pounded chicken breasts sautéed and topped with a light shallot and mushroom pan sauce built with white wine, chicken broth, and fresh rosemary. Ready in under 30 minutes, no cream.

This is a favorite dish of my family's, especially on holidays like Easter and Christmas. Most people cringe at the idea of eating a cow's tongue, but actually the meat is very tender, and even if you have to close your eyes and plug your nose to try it, please do. I guarantee it won't be what you expect!

Lobster or shrimp fra diavolo in a spicy tomato sauce with red wine, hot peppers, garlic, and fresh herbs, tossed with pasta. Italian-American seafood at its boldest.