Rice/6 recipes

Szechwan eggplant and tofu stir-fry with soy-sherry-ginger sauce and a cayenne kick. A vegan Sichuan-style wok dish that turns eggplant silky and tofu deeply flavored.

Broiled marinated vegetables with baby squash and Japanese eggplant in a soy, lime juice, ginger, garlic, and cumin marinade. An Asian-inspired side dish with bold, tangy flavors.

Shrimp Creole: Louisiana-style shrimp simmered with the holy trinity of onion, celery and green pepper in a cayenne-spiked tomato sauce, served over fluffy white rice.

Sautéed chicken livers with onions and mushrooms in garlicky butter, dredged in pancake flour for a crisp crust. An old-school appetizer or budget dinner over rice pilaf.

Laufabrauð (Icelandic snowflake bread): paper-thin rounds of dough decorated with intricate cut-outs, fried crispy in hot lard. A Christmas tradition from the Westfjords going back generations.

Freezer-friendly sweet and sour pork with pineapple, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, and a tangy soy-vinegar sauce. Make-ahead Chinese-American takeout classic that reheats like new.

Strawberries Romanoff muffins are a no-bake brunch trick: toasted English muffins spread with cinnamon-raisin purée, piled with hulled strawberries, drizzled with brown-sugar sour cream, and topped with toasted almonds.

South African curried lamb kebabs marinated overnight in a sweet-tangy sauce of chutney, curry powder, vinegar, and lemon leaves. Grilled and served with rice and chutney.

Old-fashioned stewing hen braised tender in seasoned broth, served over mashed potatoes or rice with a lemony green pea cream sauce. The kind of cooking grandma got right.

Calamaria Gemista: traditional Greek stuffed squid filled with rice, pine nuts, currants, and fresh herbs, then slow-simmered in wine and tomatoes until fork-tender.

Salt-free seasoning blend with garlic powder, basil, star anise, oregano, and lemon zest. A homemade spice mix for low-sodium cooking that adds real flavor without the salt.

Spooky Halloween spider cake shaped from two round layers with black frosting, licorice legs, and gumball eyes. A fun green gelatin surprise hides inside the body.

Lorraine's red stew fish: West African style fish stew with onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños ground into a deep red sauce, thickened with cornstarch and finished with butter. Spoon over rice or fufu.

Szczupak po polsku is a classic Polish dish of gently poached pike (or whitefish, perch, or sole) topped with a warm butter sauce of chopped hard-boiled eggs, fresh dill, and lemon juice. Serve with rice or potatoes.

Curried parsnip fritters pan-fried in butter until golden brown. Boiled parsnips pureed with eggs, flour, and curry powder, then served with rice and gravy. A parsnip-hater's conversion recipe.

Halloween spider cake filled with green Jello that oozes when sliced, frosted black with licorice legs and gumdrop eyes. Gross, fun, and unforgettable.