Chicken and beef burgoo, the hearty Kentucky stew that simmers two meats with corn, lima beans, potatoes, okra, and tomatoes, thickened with a bacon-drippings roux. A big-batch Southern crowd-pleaser.
Granny's sourdough starter: a four-ingredient old-fashioned starter that uses commercial yeast as a kickstart, then matures into a true wild starter you feed every ten days.
Curry-dusted fish fillets pan-sautéed alongside golden bananas and crisp celery. This Indian-inspired 20-minute skillet dinner pairs savory, sweet, and spiced flavors in every bite.
Seafood gumbo built on a butter-flour roux with shrimp, okra, tomatoes, chili powder, and Worcestershire, served over rice with filé powder. Where Louisiana bayou meets Texas ranch country.
This a delightful dish is an innovative and economical way to serve a do-it-yourself-style appetizer or main-dish. It is usually presented in a special lacquered wood or china tray with the required number of compartments. It is just as effective served on a tray in small bowls or dishes
Green tomato omelet with cornmeal-dredged fried tomatoes, fresh basil, and scallions. A flat Italian-style frittata that turns end-of-season tomatoes into a satisfying meal.
Cajun-style fried hand pies stuffed with ground pork and beef, onions, green onions, parsley, and a kick of red pepper. Crimped pastry pockets fried golden and crisp.
Bread machine oat carrot bran bread with grated carrots, rolled oats, oat flour, bran, cinnamon, and applesauce. A high-fiber loaf with natural sweetness.
Eggplant in a Carriage (Melanzane in Carrozza): Italian fried eggplant sandwiches stuffed with mozzarella, anchovy, and basil, then breaded and pan-fried to golden.
A showstopper Boston cream pie with four layers of airy genoise, white chocolate pastry cream between each layer, a glossy dark chocolate ganache coating, and fresh raspberries on top. Patisserie-level dessert.
Baked vegetarian samosas with a homemade whole wheat crust and a curried spinach, carrot, and scallion filling glazed with tamari. No deep frying needed. Equally good served hot from the oven or cold for lunch.
Southern fried chicken done Mom's way: flour-dredged pieces covered first for juicy meat, then uncovered and cranked up for a shatter-crisp golden crust.
Sausage and Stilton quiche in a homemade butter pastry with crumbled sausage, Swiss cheese, and blue cheese in a cream-egg custard. A rich, British-style savory tart from scratch.
Rich chocolate cupcakes hiding a cream cheese and chocolate chip center that stays molten and gooey. The cocoa batter gets its lift from vinegar and baking soda, yielding a tender, fudgy crumb. Makes 3 dozen crowd-pleasers.
Korean jujube rice cakes made with just two ingredients: dried jujubes kneaded with glutinous rice flour and steamed. Soft, chewy, and naturally sweet with no added sugar.
Samosas are crisp Indian fried pastries filled with spiced potato and pea, or curried lamb and beef. Two filling options, one homemade dough, fried golden in 48-piece batches.