Rice pie baked in a pastry crust with long grain rice cooked in tomato juice, beef broth, and butter, topped with peas, carrots, and a lattice pastry lid brushed with egg yolk.
Diaper dump porridge is a gross-out Halloween dumpling soup made with refrigerator biscuits sculpted into questionable shapes and floated in chicken broth. Three ingredients, maximum kid shock value.
Southwest pork stew with chorizo, butternut squash, and corn, baked under a sour cream cornbread crust. A hearty one-dish Mexican-inspired dinner.
Slow-simmered beef chuck chili with cumin, oregano, and chili powder, made a day ahead for deep flavor. Topped with sour cream and fresh lime.
Homemade dog biscuits packed with wholesome whole wheat, rye, and cracked wheat, baked until golden and crunchy. Made with real beef or chicken broth, these bone-shaped treats store for months and make tail-wagging gifts.
Italian meat sauce built on a proper soffritto of onion, carrot, and celery with ground beef, mushrooms, red wine, and beef stock. A slow-simmered Bolognese-style ragù.
Herb-seasoned beef meatballs baked in a red wine and tomato sauce with potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and whole onions. A cozy one-pot stew that's great for make-ahead meals.
Elegant green pea and shrimp soup finished with white wine, cream, and champagne. Fresh savory and tarragon give this French-inspired soup its herbal depth.
Six pounds of cubed beef browned in suet, simmered in beef stock with a full cup of chili powder and crushed cumin seeds, thickened with masa harina. No tomatoes. No beans. This is Texas Red in its purest form.
Reno Red competition-style chili with coarse-ground beef, dried red chiles, cumin, oregano brewed in beer, and masa flour. No beans, all meat, pure heat.
Beef and tofu stir-fry with Chinese cabbage in a glossy brown sauce over rice. Ground beef and cubed tofu wok-fried with garlic in under 30 minutes.
Best borscht: a ruby-red Russian beet soup loaded with potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes in a rich beef broth, finished with a swirl of sour cream and fresh dill. Hearty yet light.
Braised veal shanks (osso buco-style) with porcini mushrooms, white wine, rosemary, and a classic mirepoix. Oven-braised until fork-tender, with a reduced pan sauce.
Italian onion soup with caramelized Vidalia onions in beef broth, topped with homemade croutons, Parmesan, and melted mozzarella baked until bubbly and golden.
Roast leg of lamb studded with garlic and rosemary, rubbed with lemon juice, roasted over sliced potatoes and onions. Finished with a fresh mint butter pan sauce.
Homemade chipotle sauce with rehydrated dried chipotles, bacon, tomatoes, beef stock, and fresh cilantro. A smoky, spicy Mexican sauce with customizable heat level.