Rice/5 recipes

Tomato basil mussels: fresh mussels steamed open in a broth of white wine, garlic, diced tomatoes, basil, and hot sauce. A 15-minute Mediterranean dinner served in its own briny-tomato broth.

Braised beef and noodles in a rich red wine and golden mushroom soup gravy with a surprise twist: diced dill pickles and pickle juice that add a tangy brightness you won't expect but can't stop eating.

You can use any vegetable as you wish, the pastry is made with whole wheat flour, low fat milk and a little bit butter or olive oil. It is a much healthier way to enjoy a pot pie!

Bay scallop stew layers tender bay scallops over diced fennel, potato, and green beans in a saffron-fish broth scented with basil, dill, and tarragon. French Provençal seafood supper.

Roast beef sandwiches simmered in a garlic-lime tomato sauce with green chiles, cumin, and cilantro on whole-wheat rolls. A zippy Southwestern-style leftover makeover ready in 25 minutes.

Turkish-style pizza with a whole wheat crust, Monterey Jack, diced tomatoes, sweet Vidalia onion, and jalapeño. Optional pastrami adds smoky-peppery depth. Baked on a pizza stone for a crisp, golden oval flatbread finished with torn flat-leaf parsley.

Chilled shrimp salad tossed with fresh dill, cucumber, celery, and a tangy dressing of mayo, sour cream, Dijon, and anchovy paste. Serve it on lettuce or stuffed into hollowed tomatoes for a gorgeous lunch.

Velveted chicken stir-fry seasoned with oregano, lemon pepper, and white wine instead of soy and ginger. The Greek-Chinese mashup that actually works. Two-serving size.

Colorful vegetable soup with fennel, carrots, zucchini, red pepper, and mushrooms in herb-infused chicken broth. Freezes beautifully and feeds a crowd with a Parmesan finish.

This quick Mexican bean dip is packed with flavor. It can be a dip or a filling to make burrito. Within about 10 minutes, you will be able to enjoy a quick delicious meal.

Mexican beef casserole layered with flour tortillas, creamed corn, Rotel tomatoes, enchilada sauce, and two cheeses. A crowd-pleasing party dish with serious heat.

There are hundreds versions of this very Polish soup. Here you have an original proposition of mine. I used to cook it on the base of my favorite duck and chicken stock. The cream is a must to create wonderful pink color. Optionally you may add a quarter or a half of hard boiled egg to your bowl. By the way, I change my recipe sometimes, for instance by adding dried California prunes instead of sugar, or by adding some white vinegar instead of lemon juice.

So to start off with the first post, I decided to make a meal that screams of comfort food. Whilst it does take a bit of a while to get the meal done, once you take that first bite, heaven couldn’t seem closer if you were Adam trying to touch God’s finger in the “Creation of Adam” fresco created by Michaelangelo. The meal I speak of is Cottage Pie. There is much debate as to what exactly a cottage pie is and how it is different to a Shepherd’s pie...I don’t know. The dominant theory is that Sheperds pie uses lamb mince, whilst a cottage pie uses beef mince. I don’t know about you, but the term “Sheperds Pie” does not get my tastebuds going quite as well, so I prefer the term cottage pie. Besides, comparing the price of ground (mince) beef to ground lamb, a student would pick up the beef mince in a heartbeat without even so much as glancing at the lamb in the meat section. This cottage pie that I made is full of flavour, and just makes you want to cuddle up next to a fire and watch TCM movies all day either by yourself, or with a significant other. Here is the recipe:

New England fish chowder with haddock, cod, bacon, and potatoes in a creamy milk and evaporated milk broth. A classic, no-frills chowder that tastes even better the next day.

Chilled fruit gazpacho with tomatoes, honeydew, cantaloupe, mango, nectarines, and cucumber in fresh orange juice with basil, mint, and a jalapeño kick. A stunning summer starter.

Rustic fish stew with tilapia, white wine, clam juice, zucchini, red pepper, and Roma tomatoes. A light Mediterranean-style one-skillet stew ready in 35 minutes.