Crock pot sweet and sour chicken in a homemade sauce of brown sugar, vinegar, soy, and pineapple, thickened glossy and loaded with peppers and onion. A from-scratch slow cooker take on takeout.
Poc-Chuc, the classic Yucatan grilled pork steak marinated in sour orange and achiote paste, served with habanero-spiked pickled red onions. Traditional Maya-style barbecue straight from Merida.
Maple barbecued caribou ribs marinated overnight and slow-roasted for 3 hours in a sauce of maple syrup, ketchup, Worcestershire, and juniper berries. Wild game meets Canadian-style BBQ.
Crock-made crystal sweet pickles brined for 2 weeks, then dressed in a cinnamon and clove vinegar syrup over 5 days. A labor of love from grandma's kitchen that yields jars of glass-clear, spiced pickles.
Tropical ceviche with red snapper and shrimp marinated in lime, orange juice, and passion fruit puree with jalapeno and cilantro. A Latin American showpiece appetizer.
Russian-style ground chicken patties stuffed with sautéed mushrooms, breaded and pan-fried golden, then napped with a tangy sour cream sauce. Old-world comfort worth the effort.
Hot and sweet pickled peppers turn banana peppers into crisp, tangy jars with a sugar-vinegar brine and whole garlic cloves. A classic water-bath canning recipe for sandwiches, pizzas, and antipasto.
Green tomato relish with onions, red bell peppers, and banana peppers in a tangy white vinegar brine with pickling spices. A classic end-of-season canning recipe that yields 11 pints.
Seared lamb shoulder chops smothered in a glossy pineapple-brown sugar sauce with tender carrots and green bell pepper. A sweet and sour twist on lamb that's ready in 35 minutes.
Gujarati tomato kasundi with mustard seeds, garlic, turmeric, and cayenne, simmered sharp and hot. Indian relish for rice, dosas, or slathered on a cheese sandwich.
Grilled pork chops with a sticky hoisin-ketchup glaze and homemade pickled ginger on the side. An Asian-inspired weeknight dinner ready in 40 minutes.
Homemade peach chutney with brown sugar, honey, raisins, and whole spices simmered for an hour and canned in a boiling water bath. Makes 4 pints of sweet-tart preserve.
Seared double-cut pork chops glazed with tamarind and molasses, served over roasted sweet potatoes with a rich mole cream of pepitas, pistachios, pine nuts, and roasted poblano.
Creamy horseradish sauce folds prepared horseradish, Dijon mustard, and a pinch of paprika into freshly whipped cream. The classic sharp-yet-cloudlike accompaniment to prime rib.
Pork chops seared then simmered in a roasted poblano-cilantro sauce spiked with cumin and coriander. A fast, Southwest-style skillet dinner with mild smoky chile heat, on the table in about 20 minutes.
Escargot and chanterelle stew simmered in white wine and chicken stock with herbs, finished with an egg yolk and cream liaison for a silky, rich French-inspired broth.
Lean turkey tenderloins simmered in a glossy apricot-pineapple sweet and sour sauce with carrots, onions, and red pepper. A lighter take on a takeout classic, ready in under an hour.
Louisiana Creole rabbit marinated overnight in garlic, cayenne, and vinegar then roasted with white wine, mushrooms, and green pepper. Cajun-spiced and fork-tender.
Pickled hot red peppers: whole small chilies canned in vinegar brine with garlic, allspice, peppercorn, and bay leaf. Topped with olive oil and processed for shelf-stable storage.
Quick microwave pickled beets and cucumbers: canned beets, fresh cucumber, and onion in a sweet-tangy pickling spice brine. Refrigerator pickles ready for the table tomorrow.
Enjoy all summer long as a topping for burgers, sandwiches and cold meats. This relish is so yummy and easy to make, you'll want to keep some on hand all year long.
My copycat version of the top secret famous A1 Steak Sauce.
Whiskey-spiked raisin pecan pie with warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice folded into a fluffy egg-white batter. A boozy, golden Southern classic served warm with spiked whipped cream.
Grilled tuna steaks brushed with a pineapple-ginger glaze made from reduced pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and fresh lime. Seared medium-rare in 6 minutes.
A Tibetan style sauce for momos (Tibetan dumplings).
Kelly's Asian chicken: bone-in chicken pieces braised with a whole bulb of garlic, dried chiles, soy, vinegar, and honey. Vietnamese-style stovetop dinner that serves six.
Thai grilled beef salad (Nam Tok) with flank steak, lime juice, fish sauce, toasted rice powder, and fresh chilies. Smoky, sour, and spicy with a nutty crunch from ground roasted rice.
Herman's famous kosher dill pickles: crunchy refrigerator dills brined with garlic, fresh dill, pickling spice, kosher salt, and vinegar. Ready in just 2 days, no canning equipment needed.
Southern-style chopped barbecue pork shoulder rubbed with crushed red pepper, slow-roasted with vinegar, and tossed in tangy barbecue sauce. Fall-apart tender with serious kick.
The original General Tso's chicken from Chef Peng: crisp-fried dark-meat chicken tossed in a tangy soy-and-vinegar sauce fired up with dried chilies. Savory and hot, not the sticky-sweet takeout version, and gluten-free with tamari.
A great summer relish to serve with chips or as a topping for hamburgers off the grill.
Madeira is one of the places where Christmas traditions are so closely adhered to that one really looks forward to the festa. Cooking preparations starts months in advance. It is at a time of year that the prize pig is slaughtered so that there is enough pork for Christmas lunch of Vinha d’Alhos.
Midwest-style ham balls baked in a sweet and tangy brown sugar mustard glaze with white vinegar. A classic potluck dish made from ham loaf, crackers, and eggs.
Slow-roasted chopped pork shoulder with a spicy red pepper rub, vinegar baste, and tangy barbecue sauce. Season it overnight, roast it low, chop it, and sauce it up for pulled pork perfection.
Italian-style pickled artichokes preserve tender artichoke hearts in herbed olive oil with garlic, bay, basil, oregano, and optional chiles after a two-stage vinegar cure.
Russian cabbage soup with slow-simmered beef chuck, tomatoes, and shredded cabbage in a sweet-sour broth finished with fresh lemon juice and a cool dollop of sour cream.
Chicken breasts marinated overnight in vermouth, dried apricots, and prunes, then baked with sweet potato cubes until tender and caramelized. A low-fat, fruit-forward dinner that practically cooks itself.
Thai-style pickled vegetables with cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, and serrano chiles in a sweet vinegar brine. A tangy, crunchy condiment ready after one day of marinating.
Chicken breasts marinated in Grand Marnier, apricot jam, Dijon mustard, and honey, then baked or grilled with a sticky, caramelized glaze. A showstopper for dinner parties and summer cookouts.
Stir-fried chicken with soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and snow peas tossed over rice vermicelli. A fast Chinese-inspired weeknight dinner loaded with seven bold flavors in 40 minutes.
Grandma's sweet pickled beets made with canned whole beets in a vinegar-sugar brine. Only 5 ingredients, ready to jar in 20 minutes. Let them sit a few days and serve cold.
The right balance of flavor. The pork was sweet, sour, and full of flavour. I added pineapple chunks, both green and red bell peppers to the dish. The dish looked so colourful and tasted delicious. The combination was perfect.
Sweet, sour and crunchy! I don't think I can ever go back to the store-bought pickles after I tried this. It was so good! I used cauliflower this time, and will try brussels sprouts when I finish this bunch. Delicious!
Authentic Sri Lankan chicken curry simmered in coconut milk with cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and fresh tomatoes. Tender, fragrant and ready in about an hour.
Million Dollar Pickles: classic sweet bread-and-butter style pickles with cucumbers, onion, and bell peppers in a turmeric-mustard-celery seed brine. Shelf-stable home canning recipe.
Old-school Cajun pickled pork made with vinegar, mustard seeds, garlic, and hot sauce. Brine boneless pork butt for 3 days to create the essential base for authentic red beans and rice.
Sweet zucchini relish with grated onions, red bell pepper, turmeric, and celery seed for canning. Salted overnight, then simmered in a vinegar-sugar brine.
Homemade Jos Louis cakes (gateaux Jos Louis): French Canadian chocolate sandwich cakes with fluffy marshmallow-style vanilla filling and a rich chocolate icing coat. A Quebec childhood classic.