Slow-baked navy beans in a tangy molasses, brown sugar, and bacon sauce with a surprise ingredient: lemon-lime soda. This from-scratch baked beans recipe simmers low and slow for fork-tender, smoky results every time.
Four hour beef stew baked low and slow with cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix, and tapioca for a thick, rich gravy. No browning, no stovetop fuss.
End-of-month vegetable soup made with whatever is in the fridge: cabbage, potatoes, carrots, celery, bacon ends, and a bouquet garni simmered in white wine. A frugal, flexible pantry-clearing soup.
Silky, bright lemon soup made with fresh lemons, carrots, celery, and chicken broth, finished with cream. Serve hot or chilled for a refreshing starter that wows at any gathering.
From-scratch tuna mushroom casserole with Swiss cheese, green beans, dill, and buttered bread crumb topping. No canned soup needed. Homemade comfort food that beats the shortcut version every time.
Light Southwestern vegetable stew with zucchini, mushrooms, kalamata olives, salsa, and salsa verde simmered in vegetable broth. Vegan, quick, and full of bold flavor.
A tangy, mayo-free coleslaw dressed with a warm vinegar, mustard, and celery seed dressing over shredded cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers. Keeps in the fridge for days.
Mushroom soup concentrate is a homemade replacement for canned condensed mushroom soup, built from fresh mushrooms, butter, onion, celery and broth. Use it in casseroles or thin with milk for a quick bowl.
Lasagna Sarde is a Sardinian-style pasta with lobster, saffron, potatoes, overripe tomatoes, and white wine tossed with fettuccine. A rustic Italian seafood pasta that celebrates simple, bold ingredients.
Make-ahead chicken and wild rice casserole loaded with mushrooms, red bell pepper, celery, and low-fat cheddar. Assemble the night before and bake when you're ready. Feeds a crowd.
Big-batch coarsely ground sirloin chili simmered low for 6 hours with bell peppers, celery, tomatoes, and green chiles. Beans optional. Serves 16 for chili night or game day.
Quinoa stuffed onions filled with mushrooms, chickpeas, celery, and garlic, topped with a creamy roasted walnut sauce. A hearty vegetarian main dish with plant-based protein.
A hearty one-skillet dinner with turkey, kidney beans, and rice simmered in crushed tomatoes and chili powder, topped with melted Monterey Jack. Everything cooks together in one pan for an easy 45-minute weeknight meal.
Louisiana roast cuts deep pockets into the meat and stuffs them with the Cajun trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper bound with garlic and butter. Baked low and slow so the seasoning melts into every slice.
Plain Italian minestrone with potatoes, celery, green beans, peas, and ditalini pasta in a simple broth, finished with Parmesan and parsley. No tomatoes needed.
Thick, hearty lentil soup with chunks of smoked sausage, potatoes, carrots and a surprising strip of orange zest that brightens the whole pot. A filling main-course bowl ready in about 80 minutes.
A refined French Canadian Christmas oyster soup with gently warmed oysters in buttery milk infused with grated carrots and celery. Elegant, briny, and on the table in 40 minutes.
Not too watery, not too heavy, this recipe is just right! Once again, I often adjust measurements and go by feel!
Crispy stir-fried vegetables glazed in a honey-orange-ginger sauce, stuffed into pita pockets and grilled until sealed. A crunchy, sweet-savory meatless meal in 30 minutes.
Dairy-free potato leek soup pureed with brown rice for natural body and silkiness. No cream, no butter. A light French-style potage with a splash of white wine vinegar to brighten every spoonful.
Tiny pasta shells tossed in a creamy Monterey Jack sauce with shrimp, minced clams, and a splash of dry sherry. A cozy, one-skillet seafood pasta ready in 45 minutes.
Stir-fried flank steak with ginger and scallions tossed with noodles, bean sprouts, shredded carrots, and celery in a light soy sauce. Better than takeout beef lo mein in 40 minutes.
No-cook cucumber oil pickles with sliced onions in a vinegar, salad oil, celery salt, and mustard seed brine. A big-batch heritage recipe using 60 small cucumbers.
I used two cups of chicken broth, and 1 cup of water, still nice!
Indian-spiced chicken soup with turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and whole peppercorns. Chicken breast simmered with potatoes, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro, finished with lemon.
Baked herbed cauliflower with poultry seasoning, sage, mushrooms, and sauteed onion-celery base. A savory stuffing-flavored vegetable side dish that pairs with roast chicken or turkey.
Greek-style marinated mushrooms in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs, made quickly in the microwave. Chilled for 24 hours for a tangy, herbaceous cold appetizer or meze.
Classic New England clam chowder with bacon, potatoes, and canned clams in a creamy milk-based broth. Thick, hearty, and ready in 40 minutes on the stovetop.
Thick, creamy cheesy chicken chowder packed with tender potatoes, carrots, and celery in a rich cheddar-laced broth. This from-scratch soup warms you from the inside out on chilly evenings.
Roast beef stroganoff turns leftover roast beef into a creamy mushroom and sour cream sauce with celery, onion, and beef bouillon. A smart weeknight repurpose served over rice or egg noodles in 40 minutes.
Paprika-browned turkey simmered with tomatoes, potatoes, green peas, mushrooms, and bell pepper in a herb-seasoned broth. Serve over hot rice for a hearty island-inspired stew that feeds the soul.
Light and earthy wild rice dressing with brown rice, fresh mushrooms, celery, and watercress simmered in thyme-scented broth. A wholesome holiday side dish that won't weigh you down.
Quick microwave vegetable chili with kidney beans, zucchini, jalapeños, and bell peppers in a cumin-oregano tomato base. Ready in 45 minutes, topped with melty cheese.
Arroz con pollo built on a hearty mix of brown and wild rice instead of white. Browned chicken simmered with tomatoes, white wine, almonds, peas and a Latin-style sofrito of onion, garlic and paprika.
A chilled shrimp and vermicelli salad loaded with peas, green onions, dill pickles, hard-boiled eggs, and bell pepper in a tangy sour cream and mustard dressing. A hearty make-ahead salad that feeds a crowd.
This cream of chicken soup takes some time but is super creamy and rich with numerous layers of flavors.
1 tbsp of chicken base may be used in place of instant chicken bouillion
Old-fashioned beef and barley vegetable soup built from meaty soup bones simmered low and slow with pearl barley, carrots, celery, tomatoes, and sweet green peas. The kind of soup that warms you from the inside out.
Silky blended vegetable soup combines turnips, potatoes, leeks, and carrots in chicken broth, finished with cream and fresh dill.
Classic party mix tosses Chex-style cereals and pretzel sticks in a Worcestershire butter sauce, baked low until every piece turns deeply seasoned and crisp. The original snack-bowl staple, ready in an hour.
Patata e risi, an Italian potato and rice soup with carrots, tomato paste, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. A hearty one-pot soup simmered in chicken broth and finished with grated cheese.
Bailey's Bouillabaisse (Fish Stew) with Potatoes and Vegetables recipe
Tofu and rice stuffed peppers fill green bell peppers with brown rice, mixed vegetables, sauteed mushrooms and crumbled tofu, then bake under tomato soup. A vegan, low-fat take on the classic stuffed pepper. Make-ahead friendly.
Slow cooker baked beans from scratch with bacon, molasses, pineapple chunks, dill pickles, and green olives. A tangy, smoky, loaded side dish that simmers all day long.
This tasty recipe for roulade calls for beef, bacon slices, celery and green pepper.
Homemade chicken soup simmered with celery, bay leaf, and peppercorns, finished with tiny butter dumplings dropped right into the broth. Old-fashioned comfort in every spoonful.
Hearty Halloween soup with ground turkey, red potatoes, tomatoes, and vermicelli in an herbed broth with turkey gravy. A warming one-pot meal for a chilly October night.
Mom's macaroni with steak is a one-pot pressure cooker dinner: tender round steak strips and elbow macaroni cooked right in a paprika-spiced tomato sauce, then finished with melted sharp cheddar. Hearty weeknight comfort.