Recipes with salt and black pepper

Cheese-stuffed burgers hide a pocket of Monterey Jack and fresh chile pepper inside lean ground beef patties, then get served on toasted crusty bread with sliced tomato. The Juicy Lucy goes Southwest.

Chicken olive and mushroom bread pudding: savory layered casserole with curried chicken, black olives, mushrooms, and a cream-of-chicken sour cream top. Make-ahead party dish for sixteen.

Kefallinian meat pie layers spiced lamb, rice, feta, and potatoes between buttery phyllo sheets with hints of cinnamon, orange zest, and fresh mint. A Greek island classic from Kefalonia.

Avocado Relish from Mesa Grill combines diced avocado, jalapeño, red onion, fresh lime juice, and cilantro in a 5-minute no-cook condiment. Chunky, bright, and perfect alongside grilled fish or tacos.

Honey-glazed carrots and parsnips simmered in butter and chicken stock, then oven-roasted with a honey-lemon-curry glaze. Make-ahead friendly holiday side dish.

Orange and fennel salad shaves raw fennel over peeled orange segments, dressed in olive oil and red wine vinegar, finished with dried cranberries. A Sicilian classic done simple.

Classic ratatouille Nicoise with each vegetable browned separately in olive oil before combining. Eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and onions cooked the traditional way for distinct textures, not mush.

Olive Garden-style pasta fagioli with great northern beans, stewed tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, and spiral pasta. A one-pot Italian soup that simmers in a Dutch oven.

Broiled rosemary chicken over pureed lentils stacks broiled chicken breasts on a walnut-and-mushroom lentil purée, with lemon-garlic chard and a rosemary-lemon pan drizzle.

Mini mushroom pizzettes topped with silky bechamel sauce, sauteed mushrooms, nutty Gruyere, and a snowfall of Parmigiano-Reggiano. A French-Italian hybrid appetizer baked to golden perfection.

Pork chops with raspberry sauce pan-sear boneless chops, then deglaze with shallot, chicken stock, raspberry jam, and vinegar for a glossy sweet-tart pan sauce. A 30-minute bistro-style dinner.

Crustless artichoke quiche with marinated artichoke hearts, sharp cheddar, scallions, and a touch of hot sauce. A make-ahead brunch bake that cuts into squares for easy serving.

Roast capon stuffed with rye bread, caraway seeds, and parsley, cooked in the microwave. A retro technique that delivers juicy, tender poultry fast.

Andalusian gazpacho with 3 pounds of fresh tomatoes, bread, garlic, olive oil, and white wine vinegar, served ice-cold with a spread of diced vegetable garnishes. No cooking required.

All kinds of ingredients in this mushroom pie, very tasty and good for health!

Pasta arrabbiata with dried red chilies, six cloves of garlic, and tomato passata in olive oil. A spicy, stripped-down Italian classic with just seven ingredients.