Recipe Sifter

When on the go, try this Idaho-style chili that's made with pinto beans, ground beef and tomato sauce.

This recipe will produce a notably hot chili. But there are plenty of points where you can modify the heat level. You can substitute a bell or poblano pepper for the fresh hot peppers, substitute olive oil for the chile oil, and adjust or eliminate the hot sauce and/or cayenne pepper.

Spiced Lentil Soup with Assorted Vegetables recipe

East Texas red chili built on rehydrated ancho peppers pureed into a deep, smoky base, with a sneaky milk chocolate bar melted in for that mole-like roundness. Pure Lone Star comfort, simmered until the meat falls apart.

Mama's chicken cacciatore: paprika-dusted chicken browned in olive oil, then braised in dry Marsala with crushed plum tomatoes, carrots, celery, and peppers. Italian comfort food the way Madre made it.

This is another healthy recipe, low calorie, and low-fat, a lot of protein.

Chicken and yellow rice that's baked to perfection in a casserole.

Beef and Italian sausage chili with a tablespoon of instant coffee for depth, two kinds of beans (kidney and refried), and a Monterey Jack topping. Captain's recipe.

Pork tenderloin rubbed with oregano, cumin, ancho chile, and smoked paprika, seared golden then roasted alongside honey-glazed baby carrots with jalapeño and garlic. A smoky, one-pan dinner for six.

Greek-style baked shrimp with feta (shrimp saganaki style): jumbo shrimp baked under crumbled feta and breadcrumbs, drenched in a garlic-rosemary-oregano scampi butter. Served over pasta or rice.

Hearty no-bean beef chili built on 3 pounds of stewing beef, half a cup of chili powder, masa harina for body, and a secret weapon: a dash of Peychaud's bitters and nutmeg at the finish.

Thick-cut rib eye steaks rubbed with a bold blend of black pepper, paprika, garlic, and red pepper flakes, then grilled over coals to a smoky char. A peppery dry-rub steak built for the grill.

Herb-seasoned beef meatballs simmered in homemade red sauce, loaded into hollowed-out hoagie rolls with melted mozzarella and Parmesan, then baked until bubbly and golden.

Earthy brown rice simmered with cumin, paprika, red bell pepper and oregano for a healthy, fragrant Spanish rice side dish. Just 5 minutes of prep and one pot to clean.

Black bean chili built on home-ground spices and dried ancho chile. Vegetarian, vegan-adaptable, with toasted cumin and homemade chili powder. Serve over melted cheese with creme fraiche and roasted poblanos.

Eight pepper beef chili loaded with chipotles, habaneros, poblanos, jalapeños, anchos, and more. A slow-simmered, layered-heat chili that brings serious fire.