325 mellow recipes

Green corn tamales made from fresh corn ground with Monterey Jack cheese, whipped with lard and butter, filled with roasted green chiles and cheddar, steamed in the husks.

A must on your Christmas cookie tray. Despite the lemony frosting, the cinnamon flavor comes through.

I baked this for work. Everyone RAVED. It's October and it seemed like a holiday-ish dessert. I will have to make it again for the upcoming holidays.

Quick vegan ratatouille with eggplant, Roma tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and basil. A 15-minute weeknight dinner that's plant-based and full of flavor.

Thai yellow curry paste from scratch with dry-roasted cumin, coriander seeds, dried chilies, lemongrass, shallots, and garlic. Pairs best with beef and pork curries.

Greek stuffed grape leaves (dolmades) filled with ground lamb, pine nuts, fresh mint, parsley, and lemon juice, then baked in water until tender. A classic Mediterranean appetizer.

Pepper salad is a blender coleslaw with cabbage, carrot, and chili peppers pulse-chopped with water, drained, and dressed with mayonnaise. A quick, diabetic-friendly, 10-minute side dish.

Sauteed plantains pan-fry ripe yellow plantains in canola oil until golden and caramelized. Three ingredients, ten minutes, the simplest Caribbean side.

Warm lobster tacos pair seared lobster medallions, jalapeño jack, and shredded spinach in flour tortillas, served over a bright yellow tomato salsa with serrano and lime.

This is an awesomely flexible dinner. You basically chop everything up, douse it in oil and some salt, pepper or whichever spices you're in the mood for (or grab first!) and chuck it in the oven for an hour or so.

Easy chicken and dumplings using a flour tortilla shortcut that tastes just like homemade. Tender chicken simmers in rich broth with sliced tortilla strips. Ready in 40 minutes, serves 8.

Creamy split pea soup blending green and yellow peas with fresh fennel, leeks, and thyme creates a silky vegetarian bowl of comfort.

Making your own mustard is easy and a perfect compliment to home-made deli recipes. You can control how smooth and how rustic and chunky your mustard is. This makes about 3/4 cup of mustard.

Tender veal breast stuffed with gooey mozzarella, spinach, and roasted peppers, rolled tight and slow-roasted until fork-tender. Sliced into gorgeous spirals, this Florentine-style roast feeds 6 with a silky white wine pan sauce.

Grilled flank steak fajitas marinated in lime juice, cumin, and onion soup mix with sauteed peppers and onions on warm flour tortillas.

Masur dal simmered with turmeric, ginger, and garlic, finished with a cumin and crispy onion tadka in ghee. A simple Indian lentil recipe that's warm, comforting, and ready in about 35 minutes.