Middle Eastern-style beef kabobs with rice, mint, allspice, and cinnamon on skewers with zucchini and red pepper. Broiled with a lemon-mint oil baste.
Gazpacho blond: golden version of the classic cold soup made with yellow tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, and champagne vinegar. Stunning chilled summer starter with red tomato and black olive garnish.
Easy spaghetti tosses al dente noodles with a quick onion-garlic-tomato sauce simmered in a single skillet. Pantry weeknight pasta in 35 minutes, no jar required.
Marinated olives with garlic, orange zest, and fennel seeds warmed in olive oil. An Italian-style appetizer that improves with time. Ready in hours, not days.
Fusilli bucati pasta with sauteed soft shell crabs, Anaheim and jalapeno peppers, white wine, tomato sauce, and wilted escarole. A bold Italian seafood pasta.
Tricolor Boboli pizzas: prebaked crusts topped with olive tapenade, caramelized red onion, red peppers, goat cheese, and toasted pine nuts. A 1990s Mediterranean dinner-party shortcut.
Potato and onion tart: a crisp homemade pastry shell layered with sweet-tangy caramelized onion-tomato relish, golden pan-fried potatoes, sour cream, and paprika. A rustic vegetarian tart, hot or cold.
One-skillet Italian fish with mushrooms, fennel, basil, and tomato slices topped with melted Parmesan. Use catfish, orange roughy, or sole for a complete dinner in under 25 minutes.
Use fresh rosemary, if possible (many supermarkets carry it). The flavor it imparts to the lamb will be far superior to that of dried. If you like, white potatoes may be substituted for the sweet potatoes, and turnips for the parsnips. You can also flavor lamb by covering it with lemon slices before roasting.
Beans with rare steak and pesto: grilled steak sliced rare over mashed cannellini beans with fresh basil-parsley pesto. A Tuscan-style dinner that's lean, protein-heavy, and deeply savory.
Fresh tagliatelle with golden garlic, sundried tomatoes, white wine, and wilted rucola. A 6-ingredient Italian pasta that cooks in minutes with bold, simple flavors.
Jerked pork tenderloin seared then stacked on rice with sautéed portabello mushrooms, all drenched in a spiced cream sauce with allspice, coriander, and Worcestershire. Caribbean heat meets French technique on one plate.
Grilled chicken breast sandwiches stacked with smoky home-roasted red peppers, peppery arugula, ripe tomato, and a tangy Dijon-mayo sauce on toasted bread. The marinade does its work overnight.
Filetto sorpresso don is a butterflied filet mignon stuffed with prosciutto, mozzarella, and truffle, then breaded, pan-seared, and finished in white wine and lemon pan juices.
Cauliflower gratin with a savory dressing of olive oil, anchovy paste, capers, lemon, and Dijon mustard, topped with Parmesan bread crumbs and baked until golden and crisp.
Green broccoli is full of garlic flavor, with some savory and fresh anchovies, delicious.
Pasta with creamy bechamel white sauce, sliced red bell peppers, and oregano. A simple five-ingredient organic pasta dish tossed in olive oil and ready in 30 minutes.
Red beans with toasted pecans, saffron, and red wine served over whole wheat spaghetti. A creative vegetarian fusion dish with Mediterranean and Southwest flavors that comes together in 30 minutes.
Grilled tuna burgers made with fresh chopped tuna, garlic, and olive oil. Seared crisp outside and pink in the center, served on toasted buns for a high-protein meal.
Salmon and basil ravioli: homemade basil-flecked pasta dough filled with canned salmon and curd cheese, poached in fish stock and served with a fresh tomato-pesto sauce.
Chili-rubbed grilled beef marinated in cumin, lime, balsamic, and molasses for a smoky-sweet crust. Works on flank steak, top round, or pork tenderloin straight off the grill.
Cuban-style black bean soup with ham hocks, green pepper sofrito, cumin, and red wine vinegar. Brothy and chunky rather than pureed, garnished with sieved hard-cooked egg in classic Havana fashion.
Pasta salad with fresh basil, ripe Roma tomatoes, parmesan, and a lemon-olive oil toss. A summer-ready cold pasta that lets a handful of garden ingredients shine.
Picadillo ground beef simmered with olives, capers, raisins, tomatoes, cumin, and allspice over rice. A classic Latin American comfort dish with sweet-savory depth.
Zampone with potatoes and balsamic mustard vinaigrette serves the classic Modenese stuffed pig's trotter sausage over butter-braised potatoes with a tangy chive vinaigrette. A traditional Italian New Year's feast.
Dried tomato crostini with sun-dried and fresh tomatoes, olives, capers, balsamic vinegar, and garlic on toasted baguette. An Italian bruschetta-style appetizer with optional melted cheese.
Summer bean and basil soup is a classic Provençal soupe au pistou. White beans, leeks, potatoes, zucchini, green beans, and macaroni in a light broth, served with a fresh basil-garlic pistou sauce on top.
Quick microwave refried beans made from canned pinto beans mashed with garlic and olive oil. Four ingredients and five minutes for creamy, homemade frijoles refritos.
Whole grilled sea bass over a raw winter slaw of julienned carrot, parsnip, and celeriac with toasted walnuts and champagne vinegar. Bistro-style dinner for two in 30 minutes.
Penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, crushed dried chile, black olives, fresh basil, lemon zest, and Parmesan. A bold no-cook sauce that sits at room temperature to marry the flavors before tossing.
Navy beans and lots of vegetables are simmered in juicy tomato sauce, then topped with bread crumbs and baked in the oven. A delicious vegetarian main dish.
Roasted asparagus with hollandaise pairs hot-roasted spears with blender-made hollandaise sauce. The French bistro classic done with no double boiler required.
Turkey and cheese sandwich on whole grain bread stacked with avocado, smoked Monterey Jack, alfalfa sprouts, radishes, and tomato, dressed lightly with olive oil and white wine vinegar.
A savory omelet filling of browned kielbasa, sweet peppers and onions seasoned with oregano and basil. Spoon it into a French omelet for a hearty, satisfying brunch.
Lizzie's pork chops: browned pork chops braised an hour in a garlicky chicken broth. A four-ingredient weeknight dinner that turns out fork-tender every time. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.
Baked chicken with broccoli topped with a bold walnut pesto made from anchovies, basil, parmesan, and garlic. A rustic one-casserole dinner that reimagines classic Italian pesto.
Bay scallop ceviche cured in fresh lime and lemon juice with red pepper, cilantro, and green chile. No cooking needed for this bright, citrusy Mexican appetizer.
Prosciutto and pea cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, shallots, and Romano cheese tossed with penne. A rich Italian pasta sauce that comes together fast.
Broiled chicken over fettuccine in a brandy cream sauce with fresh and sundried tomatoes, jalapenos, and basil. A spicy, restaurant-style dinner for two.
Jerk chicken pizza, a Caribbean spin: spicy jerk-seared chicken and shiitakes on a barbecue-sauce base with smoked mozzarella and asiago, finished with cool mango-mint salsa. Sweet heat meets smoky cheese.
Braised game birds browned in olive oil, then slow-baked with wildfowl stock, honey, rosemary, and yogurt into a rich pan sauce. Served over wild rice.
Roasted broccoli sesame salad tossed in a soy, rice vinegar, and sesame oil dressing with toasted sesame seeds. Served warm or at room temperature.
Provençal tapenade dip with green olives, capers, anchovies and an egg yolk emulsion. Briny, salty Mediterranean spread for crackers, crudités and crostini.
Chicken liver mousse baked in ramekins with shallots, thyme, garlic, and cream, unmolded and served with fresh tomato sauce and herb garnishes. A French restaurant classic, home-kitchen achievable.
Roasted prawns with spinach mashed potatoes and roasted red pepper cream: Emeril-style plated dinner with seared shrimp, emerald green mash, and a silky pepper sauce pool.
Charcoal-grilled hard-shell crabs brushed with Thai chili paste, tomato, and garlic olive oil, served with corn grilled in the husk. A summer cookout feast with an East-meets-West kick.
Roast your lamb chops this summer with this simple recipe that uses a bit of lime juice to give it an extravagant taste!
Gazpacho relish for hot dogs: chopped tomato, cucumber, green pepper, onion, and garlic in a sweet-tangy red wine vinaigrette. Cookout topping that beats anything from a jar.