Rice/4 recipes

Sweet and sour pasta salad with kamut spirals, kidney and black beans, red pepper, scallions, and basil. A protein-packed vegan picnic salad that holds up beautifully for make-ahead lunches.

Chicken breasts soaked overnight in a bold marinade of pineapple juice, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs. Grill or pan-fry for a sweet-tangy crust with a kick of red pepper.

An Italian-leaning skillet cornbread loaded with mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and creamed corn. Heartier than classic Southern cornbread, almost a meal on its own.

A tastier variation of the traditional Polish version

Stir-fried chicken breast simmered in a unique tea-infused sauce with soy, ginger, garlic, and sugar, thickened with cornstarch. A quick Bengali-inspired weeknight dinner for two, served over rice.

Cha gio are Vietnamese crispy spring rolls stuffed with pork, shrimp, bean thread noodles, and wood ear mushrooms. Fried golden and served with lettuce, herbs, and nuoc cham.

You can say this is a combination of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Because it uses Chinese stir-fry technique, spices; Japanese noodles, miso paste; and Korean chili sauce. It has lots of yumminess and goodness in this one pot meal.

This creamy SPAM a la King turns a can of SPAM into a rich, velvety stovetop dinner with mushrooms, green peppers, and pimiento in a buttery cream sauce. Serve over puff pastry shells, rice, or toast for a quick comfort meal.

Cumin-spiced black beans simmered with sauteed onion, garlic, and lemon juice, served over brown rice or whole wheat couscous. A budget-friendly, protein-packed vegan meal.

Here's a recipe for Chow Mein which is a pretty classic application using pan fried noodles.

Bacon-wrapped chicken livers threaded on skewers with mushroom caps, seasoned with marjoram and thyme, then broiled with butter and white wine until the bacon crisps. A retro cocktail party showstopper.

Whole chicken braised in a clay pot with crispy bacon, onion, and garlic. Fall-apart tender bird cooked from a cold oven, finished with a simple pan-juice gravy.

Lolly's Swiss steak: round steak layered with onion, green pepper, mushrooms, garlic, and stewed tomatoes, microwaved into a quick single-serving comfort meal.

Kathy's chipped beef is classic creamed dried beef, the diner and mess-hall favorite. Shredded beef crisped in butter, folded into a smooth milk gravy seasoned with dry mustard, spooned over toast.

Grilled chicken sandwiches with white wine-thyme baste, herb mayo spread, lettuce, and tomato on toasted bread. A simple summer cookout lunch for four.

Cajun chicken etouffee with singed onions, the holy trinity, and a dry roux simmered into a thin, flavorful gravy. Served over rice, this Louisiana classic brings bayou flavor home in about an hour.