505 plain recipes

Oven-baked "un-fried" chicken coated in yogurt and seasoned Italian bread crumbs with Old Bay and Creole spices. Crispy, flavorful, and low-fat with no deep frying required.

Edible cake-decorating roses and leaves shaped from a marshmallow-and-powdered-sugar fondant. A budget-friendly alternative to professional gum paste for birthday and wedding cakes.

A hearty Bulgarian stew of lentils and navy beans simmered with sweet red peppers, paprika, and herbs in a rich broth deepened with prune juice and tomato paste. Vegan-friendly and high in fiber.

Roasted potato and surimi salad: red potatoes roasted hot with garlic, then tossed with imitation crab, hard-boiled eggs, and a dilled mayo-yogurt dressing. A lighter upgrade to classic potato salad.

Pear avocado mousse blended with dark rum, orange zest, chopped peanuts, and allspice. A no-cook, dairy-free dessert with a silky, tropical-spiced richness.

These peas, with curry spices and mushrooms, offer a fragrant and fiery side dish.

A rich and delicious cheesecake that's simple to make and easy to enjoy!

White Beans, Greens & Sun-Dried Tomato Crosti recipe

Bean-free turkey chili slow-cooked overnight with cocoa, cinnamon, and cumin for deep, complex flavor. A dump-and-go crockpot recipe using turkey thighs and fresh jalapeños.

Fresh strawberries baked under a flaky single-crust pastry with just sugar, flour, and butter. This rustic deep-dish strawberry pie is simple, juicy, and begs for a dollop of whipped cream.

Fruit soups provide a nice way to cool off and only take about 10 minutes to prepare. Fruit soups can play the role of appetizer or dessert.

Frosty vanilla ice cream blended with fresh orange juice and a splash of orange liqueur for a grown-up take on the nostalgic creamsicle.

Chinese chicken salad with shredded roast chicken, bean sprouts, cucumber, and carrots in a sesame-tahini dressing with soy sauce, garlic, and rice wine. Crisp, nutty, and satisfying.

Koloketes: traditional Cypriot pumpkin hand pies with bulgur, onion, and warm cinnamon in a crisp olive oil pastry. Authentic Greek Cypriot mezze or snack.

Herbed potato salad with red-skinned potatoes, Dijon mustard, yogurt-mayo dressing, and plenty of scallion, dill, and parsley. A lighter picnic side that skips the heavy gloppy stuff.

Whole wheat coffee cake with fresh fruit, lemon, yogurt, and a cinnamon-brown sugar crumble topping. Made with egg whites and nonfat yogurt, this lighter brunch cake serves 16.