County recipes

Frijoles borrachos, drunken pinto beans simmered low and slow in beer and water with bacon drippings, onion, garlic, fresh and pickled jalapenos, and chili powder. Mexican border country comfort food.

Fried apples and onions with bacon: Pennsylvania Dutch skillet side of sweet onions, tart apple rings, and brown sugar cooked in bacon fat. Classic breakfast or pork-chop companion from the Amish country.

Fettunta Toscana is Tuscan grilled bread rubbed with raw garlic and topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, and olive oil. The original Italian bruschetta, simple and seasonal.

French pear fondant tart with chunks of unpeeled pear baked into a tender egg-rich batter. Rustic country dessert sometimes called clafoutis aux poires.

Wirsingroellchen are German Savoy cabbage rolls stuffed with ground leftover meat, parsley, and breadcrumbs, baked under a basting of sour cream. A thrifty, nutmeg-warmed classic from the old country.

French-style braised duck with olives, bacon, red wine, and Dijon mustard. A rustic country braise where the duck simmers low and slow until fork-tender, served over wild rice.

Rabbit hoggan, a traditional Cornish lard-pastry parcel stuffed with rabbit, potato, turnip, and carrot. Tin miner's lunch from the West Country, baked free-form.

Wine country fettuccine alfredo with marinated sun-dried tomatoes, cream, Parmesan, and fresh chives. A Sonoma twist on the Italian classic, ready in 40 minutes.

Golden-browned chicken simmers over chorizo, rice, red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and orange wedges in a white wine and paprika broth. A rustic one-pot Basque Country classic.

Honey sour cream anise cookies bake into pillowy, soft drop cookies with brown sugar, honey, tangy sour cream, and aromatic aniseed. A licorice-scented old-country cookie for big batches.

Chicken Provencale with browned chicken pieces baked over white beans, tomatoes, carrots, garlic, and Provencal herbs. A French country one-dish dinner with cassoulet-style heart.

Devonshire splits, soft sweet yeast buns from England's West Country, split and filled generously with clotted cream and jam, then dusted with icing sugar. A traditional cream-tea treat.

Liz Yehling's potato pancakes blend grated red potatoes with raw pork sausage, eggs, and a touch of flour. Fried golden and crispy, served with cool applesauce. A hearty country-breakfast classic.

Poulet en casserole is a French country classic: whole roasted chicken braised in white wine and rosemary with tender potatoes, carrots, and onions. One pot, one oven.

Pigs in a blanket the old-country way: cabbage leaves wrapped around sausage and rice, layered with sauerkraut, tomatoes, and browned pork chops, then braised low and slow until everything melts into one pot.

Veal stew with oranges, carrots, and mushrooms: tender braised veal in a bright orange-infused broth with baby carrots and browned mushrooms. A rustic French country stew.