Eve/4 recipes

Mom said we had to have this even if Melissa didn't send it in. She's right, there is no way to each just one piece. So....easy.

Chocolate chip fruitcake with candied cherries, dates, walnuts, and chocolate chips bound by a light egg-and-sugar batter. A modern fruitcake that converts even fruitcake skeptics.

White bean chili with turkey, tomatillos, green chiles, and a cilantro yogurt cream. A leaner Southwest twist on red chili that tastes even better the next day.

Grilled corn and tomato salad tosses smoky charred corn kernels with sweet cherry tomatoes, red onion, and a light rice vinegar dressing. A make-ahead summer side that's even better the next day.

Rotel chicken spaghetti with diced tomatoes and green chiles, sautéed vegetables, and melted cheddar cheese. A Southern potluck classic that feeds a crowd and tastes even better the next day.

Greek-style green beans and potatoes braised slow in tomato until meltingly tender, finished with a fresh hit of mint. A vegan side or light main that's even better the longer it simmers.

Gulaschsuppe (German goulash soup) with tender beef cubes, sweet peppers, paprika, and a hint of caraway in a rich beef broth. The Austrian-Hungarian classic that tastes even better the next day.

Authentic Cajun dirty rice, ground beef, pork, and chicken giblets slow-simmered with the holy trinity of onion, pepper, and celery, then finished with cream and rice. Deeply savory, and even better the next day.

Paper bag apple pie: a vintage baking trick that wraps the whole pie in a brown paper bag during baking. Tender apples, golden streusel top, and an evenly browned crust without scorching.

Brown rice side dish using a 6-hour soak method for faster, more even cooking, then finished with slivered almonds and bright lemon zest. A simple, diabetic-friendly low-fat recipe.

So good. Teenage son who is a picky eater said "Best chicken ever!" Next time I'll add more veggies. Yum. Everyone enjoyed it including my 2 year old.

Caldo Verde: Portuguese green soup with kale, chorizo, white beans, potatoes, turnips, and smoked ham in chicken broth. One pot, one hour, and even better the next day.

Bigos, Poland's legendary hunter's stew: sauerkraut and cabbage simmered with roast pork, beef, ham, sausage, dried mushrooms, prunes, and red wine. Tastes even better reheated the next day.

Spicy Indonesian noodles with ground beef, bacon, tomatoes, and authentic seasonings like boemboe nasi goreng and sambal oelek. This one-hour dish tastes even better the next day.

First this double corn bread is absolutely delicious itself. Using the already-yummy cornbread makes a even more flavorful stuffing that has apples, celeries, pecans, and mixed herbs.

This is a feel good soup. When you're sick, or just want soup it's a homemade soup that always is amazing! And I don't usually even like soup!