Recipe Sifter

One master cream soup recipe with a butter-flour roux and half-and-half, plus six variations: cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber, lima bean, spinach, and asparagus. Serve hot or cold.

Joe Cooper's chili is a classic Texas bowl of red: three pounds of beef simmered with dried chiles, garlic, cumin, oregano, and a hint of cocoa. No beans, no tomatoes, just deep beef-and-chile flavor thickened with cornmeal and flour.

Lone Star ribs slow-smoked low and slow with a salt-pepper-paprika rub, then basted with a homemade ketchup-and-Worcestershire BBQ sauce. Texas-style ribs that fall clean off the bone.

Gulf Coast shrimp Mornay with scallops and oysters in a rich three-cheese sauce topped with buttery cracker crumbs. Named for Alabama's shrimping capital, this is Southern seafood luxury at its finest.

A surf-and-turf casserole loaded with chicken, shrimp, clams, and mushrooms in a savory tomato-sherry sauce. Bake it covered and let the oven do the heavy lifting for an impressive weeknight dinner.

Good wintertime meal. Serve with crusty French baguette to sop up the gravy.

Dad's chicken fried steak with cream gravy: pounded round steak triple-dredged in flour and evaporated milk, fried golden in oil, and smothered in pan-drippings white gravy. Pure Southern comfort.

An easy way to braise pork chops and zucchini for a one skillet meal.

Mexican salsa chicken: pounded chicken breasts dredged in seasoned flour, pan-fried, then topped with salsa and melted Monterey Jack cheese. Tex-Mex weeknight dinner in 30 minutes.

Hungarian pork stew with paprika, caraway seeds, roasted vegetables, red peppers, and tomatoes braised until fork-tender. Serve over wide noodles or rice for a hearty dinner.

Discover Hungarian culture with this scrumptious dish made with beef, noodles and sour cream.

Spice-rubbed chicken thighs browned and simmered with collard greens, mushrooms, bell peppers, and tomatoes in a rich, gravy-like broth. Serve over rice for a soul-warming one-pot dinner.

Creamy chicken quiche with sauteed mushrooms, green onions, and Swiss cheese in a homemade Parmesan-paprika crust filled with a rich half-and-half custard.

Creamy beef stroganoff with caramelized mushrooms and onions served over egg noodles. This weeknight-friendly skillet dinner transforms ground beef into a luscious comfort meal.

Bay scallops and mushrooms simmered in white wine, folded into a buttery cream sauce with sherry, and baked in ramekins until bubbling. French elegance made approachable.

This succulent dish is made with a savory sauce that will have you licking your fingers!