435 mellow recipes

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.

Cornmeal crepes with a slight gritty sweetness, spread with apricot jam, folded into quarters, and served with sugared strawberries and vanilla yogurt. A light, fruity breakfast or dessert.

Cheddar cornbread topping for chili pot pie with cornmeal, hot chili peppers, and melted butter. Bake over your favorite chili for a golden, crusty lid.

Mini cornmeal muffins with buttermilk and whole kernel corn baked at high heat for crispy edges. Bite-sized cornbread that's great alongside chili, soups, and barbecue.

Arroz con pollo simmered in beer with chicken, long-grain rice, tomatoes, turmeric and saffron, finished with green olives, peas and pimentos. Cuban-style one-pot dinner.

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

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.

Pizza pomodoro with homemade garlic dough topped with overlapping Roma tomato slices, fresh basil, and Parmesan. A simple Italian flatbread pizza from scratch.

Pickled dilled beans canned with fresh dill, garlic, and a kick of red pepper flakes. Crunchy whole green beans in a tart vinegar brine, the Bloody Mary garnish you'll never run out of.

Crispy baked polenta triangles topped with roasted red peppers, fresh basil, and Parmesan. A light, low-fat Italian appetizer with golden crunch and creamy center.

Glazed lemon squares with a Bisquick shortbread base, a tangy lemon-coconut custard filling, and a sweet lemon glaze on top. A bright, citrusy bar cookie with three distinct layers.

Lapsi is a traditional Indian bulgur wheat dessert cooked in milk with saffron, cardamom, fennel seeds, and golden raisins. Topped with slivered almonds for a warm, fragrant sweet.

Savory Southwest corn muffins stuffed with diced ham, pepper jack cheese, green chiles, and red bell pepper. Hearty enough for a meal with a side salad.

Classic New England johnnycake made with yellow cornmeal and tangy buttermilk. This diabetic-friendly cornbread uses sugar substitute and comes together in 40 minutes with no fuss.

Hazelnut cornmeal biscotti with toasted whole hazelnuts, stone-ground cornmeal, and warm cinnamon. Italian twice-baked cookies with a sturdy crunch perfect for dunking.