Vegetarian black bean chilaquiles layered with oven-crisped tortillas, rough-mashed spiced beans, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Low-fat, high-protein comfort food.
Note: The sauce can be used to marinate chicken, pork, ribs, or a meaty fish such as swordfish before grilling.
Vegetarian Greek cabbage rolls packed with rice, pine nuts, and fresh dill, topped with a creamy egg-lemon avgolemono sauce. A bright, herbaceous Mediterranean main course.
Tender sirloin cubes marinated in soy sauce, honey, lime, and curry powder, then grilled on skewers until charred and smoky. Quick to prep, even quicker to disappear off the plate.
Twice-baked Idaho potatoes stuffed with sauteed onions, green peppers, butter, milk, paprika, and melted cheddar. Rustic, hearty, and piled high in the shell.
Tex-Mex mac and cheese with ground beef, peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomato paste, and corn folded into boxed mac and cheese. A protein-packed weeknight upgrade ready in 40 minutes.
Fruit chili relish combines tomatoes, peaches, apples, onions, and red peppers cooked down with pickling spices and cider vinegar. A sweet-tangy preserve for canning.
A from-scratch black bean soup: dried beans simmered with smoky ham hocks, then a cumin-scented sofrito of peppers and onions, tomatoes, and a bright splash of red wine vinegar. Deep, hearty, and soulful.
Lu's moist meatloaf with lean ground beef, horseradish, crumbled bacon, and evaporated milk for extra moisture. A simple mix-and-bake meatloaf with a peppery kick.
Freezer burritos with mashed black beans, rice, sauteed onions, garlic, and tomato sauce rolled in flour tortillas. A vegetarian make-ahead meal prep staple that freezes beautifully for fast lunches or breakfasts.
A healthy alternative to gumbo that's delicious and tantalizing down to the last bit!
Cheesy scalloped potatoes with hash browns, cream of mushroom soup, peppers, and pimentos, topped with crunchy cheese cracker crumbs. One-dish comfort at its finest.
West African peanut soup with chicken broth, peppers, and chunky peanut butter creates a rich, spicy bowl ready in 30 minutes for easy weeknight dinners or meal prep.
Lobster in tomato sauce with saffron rice: Mediterranean-style shelled lobster simmered in tomato, white wine, orange juice, fennel, and saffron, thickened with lobster coral and liver. A rustic European coastal seafood feast.
Vegan twice-baked potatoes stuffed with mashed carrots, sauteed onions, basil, and fresh parsley. A hearty vegetarian main dish with no dairy needed.
Sicilian-style caponata with tender eggplant, olives, capers, and tomatoes in a tangy vinegar sauce. Make it ahead and serve cold as a rustic Italian appetizer.