Chicken/2 recipes

Mapo tofu stir-fries marinated ground pork with hot bean paste, ginger, garlic, and chiles, then simmers cubed tofu in the spicy sauce. Authentic Sichuan classic ready in under an hour.

Crustless quiche with ham, cheese, green chilies, and black olives. Bisquick batter blended with eggs and evaporated milk forms its own light base.

Butterflied shrimp in savory black bean sauce with ground pork and vegetables. This Chinese-American classic with egg ribbons is ready in just 20 minutes over rice.

Turkey picadillo, the lighter take on the Cuban classic, simmers ground turkey with tomatoes, raisins, green olives, and capers for a sweet-salty-savory skillet dinner. Ready in about 30 minutes over rice.

Lean pork tenderloin stir-fried with mushrooms, zucchini, bell pepper, and carrots in a glossy soy-chicken broth sauce. A low-fat weeknight dinner ready in 30 minutes flat.

Grilled skirt steak fajitas marinated overnight in Worcestershire, soy sauce, cumin, and lime. Served with sauteed peppers, guacamole, and warm flour tortillas.

Lighter cream of broccoli soup using skim evaporated milk and sauteed leeks for body, finished with fresh basil and a hint of nutmeg. A leaner take on the diner classic.

Simple flour-based chicken dipping batter with seasoned salt and baking powder for light crispiness. Dip and fry for a crunchy golden coating on any chicken piece.

Whole chickens stuffed with sausage dressing and smoked over charcoal for 5 hours with a wine-herb water pan. Louisiana-style backyard smoking at its finest. Serves 8.

Bacon, beer, and cheese soup blends Cheez Whiz with a cornstarch-thickened milk base, finished with smoky bacon and a splash of beer. A 1980s ski-lodge favorite.

Chilled curried pumpkin soup purées spiced pumpkin with butter-sautéed onions, bay, and nutmeg, then thins with milk for a velvety bowl that works hot or cold. A versatile do-ahead soup.

Battered eggplant slices deep-fried until crispy and drizzled with a spicy Sichuan sauce of chili bean paste, black vinegar, ginger, and tomato paste. A vegetarian Chinese dish with serious crunch and heat.

Almost all my sauce is inside florets and around shrimps. I like it because broccoli florets taste delicious with the quite strong garlic flavor of the sauce.

Why preheat the oven when you can cook this hearty casserole in your crockpot while you're away.

Tender crisp green beans tossed in a simple Asian dressing.

Curried shrimp in a creamy sauce with golden raisins, orange marmalade, and half-and-half, spooned over split baked potatoes and topped with cucumber and mint.