Grilled goat cheese salad with sweet-and-sour caramelized Spanish onions, sun-dried tomato vinaigrette, and mixed greens. A classic French bistro starter that eats like a full meal.
Brussels sprouts a la Greque tossed with lemon zest, red wine vinegar, fresh parsley, and pimento. A bright, tangy Greek-style side with no butter or oil.
Chilled cucumber yogurt soup with strained yogurt, fresh dill, mint, and garlic. Mediterranean-style summer soup that beats the heat. No-cook recipe served icy cold.
Blanched broccoli rabe tossed with sizzling garlic butter and hot pasta, topped with grated Italian cheese for a quick weeknight Italian classic.
Grilled swordfish skewers loaded with cherry tomatoes, asparagus tips, and roasted shallots, then basted in fresh basil herb butter straight off the grill.
Sauteed prawns with crispy fried leeks on a rich prawn-carrot cream sauce built from the shells and heads. A restaurant-caliber seafood dish that uses every part of the prawn.
Sauteed prawns with crispy fried leeks on a rich prawn-carrot cream sauce built from the shells and heads. A restaurant-caliber seafood dish that uses every part of the prawn.
Herbed chickpea patties blended with egg whites, bread crumbs, dry mustard, oregano, and basil, pan-fried on a nonstick griddle. Low-fat vegetarian fritters similar to falafel but lighter and easier to make.
Steelhead fillet Bonne Femme: poached in fish fumet, blanketed in white wine sauce and sauteed mushrooms, glazed with hollandaise under the broiler. A classic French seafood preparation.
Elegant omelet filled with sauteed shiitake mushrooms, sugar snap peas, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbed goat cheese. This sophisticated brunch dish is lighter than it looks.
Bistecca alla Fiorentina: thick T-bone grilled rare with Tuscan herbs, served with garlicky sauteed spinach and a glug of extra-virgin olive oil. Classic Florentine steakhouse plate.
Wicklow pancake, a traditional Irish egg and breadcrumb pancake with fresh herbs, cooked in foaming butter and finished under the grill. A hearty, rustic breakfast or supper.
Curried deer (venison) stew with curry powder, tomato paste, raisins, grapes, and diced apple simmered for 90 minutes. A sweet-savory game curry that tames venison's wild flavor.
Cheddar olive tart: a savory custard of eggs, cream, sharp cheddar, and sliced black olives baked into tart shells. Brunch or appetizer, ready in 40 minutes from a single bowl.
Cha-Cha Murphys are Mexican-style twice-baked potatoes stuffed with salsa, cilantro, buttermilk, sour cream, and Monterey Jack cheese. All done in the microwave.
Smoked pulled pork shoulder doused in a tangy apple cider vinegar marinade with chipotle peppers and garlic. Hickory smoke meets slow-burn chili heat, piled on soft rolls with slaw.