Rice/2 recipes

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.

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.

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.

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.

Monkfish chili with kidney beans, bell peppers, and a bold spice blend of cumin, cayenne, and Cajun seafood seasoning. A seafood twist on classic chili with real depth.

Loaded au gratin potatoes with hash browns, cheddar cheese, sour cream, green chiles, and a crunchy cornflake topping. The ultimate cheesy potato casserole for potlucks and holidays.

Made this for supper tonight, so easy and tasted delicious. Used whole wheat pasta to make it a bit healthier, a definite 5-star one pot meal.

Southern fried okra with green tomatoes, jalapeno, and cornmeal crust. Pan-fried as one big cake then flipped, giving you golden crunchy edges with tender vegetables inside.

Ranch cornbread baked in a hot cast-iron skillet with diced ham, sharp cheddar, red bell pepper, and pimentos. A loaded Southern cornbread with crispy edges and savory filling.

This recipe is for a Cuban stew/soup that I used to enjoy con mucho gusto. This version of Ajiaco was prepared by Senora Garcia in her little store front restaurant on Collins Ave. in Miami Beach. Although this is not her exact recipe, it's the closest I could get to it. Ajico del Restaurant Garcia

Handmade pumpkin ravioli with a spiced pumpkin-carrot filling, served in a garlic cream sauce with toasted hazelnuts and wilted sorrel. A showpiece fall pasta.

Haroset cake with zabaglione sauce turns the Passover walnut-apple-wine condiment into a flourless springform cake, served warm with a whisked Italian wine custard.

Ham crescent rolls stuff soft, buttery yeast dough with diced ham, rolled into crescents and baked golden. A Venezuelan-style homemade take on the supermarket classic.

Feed a crowd with this hearty six-bean casserole loaded with ground beef, tomato soup, and brown sugar. Serves 25 and freezes like a champ. The ultimate potluck and cookout dish.