10,000 pepper recipes

Primavera tortellini salad blanches snow peas, asparagus, and carrots, then tosses them with feta and a warm lemon-garlic-olive oil dressing. A vegetarian pasta salad that eats like a main.

Loaded with healthy protein from chicken and egg and anti-inflammatory herbs such as coriander and ginger, this is a great way to start the day. Although traditionally made by cooking grain in the soup until it becomes mushy, consider cooking grains separately to retain their texture and nutrients. Also swap white rice for brown rice or quinoa, or even barley to boost the nutrition profile of the soup.

Old-fashioned canned salmon loaf with bread crumbs, milk, and a single egg to bind. A pantry-friendly weeknight main that bakes in 30 minutes and slices clean.

Italian-American spaghetti and meatballs with a three-meat blend (beef, pork, veal), a slow-simmered tomato sauce with red wine, and parmesan-bread crumb meatballs browned then finished in sauce.

Salatet hummus, a Middle Eastern chickpea salad made from dried chickpeas tossed with parsley, onion, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and cayenne.

One-dish chicken and rice bake with cream of mushroom soup, just 6 ingredients and minimal prep. Boneless chicken breasts cook right on top of the rice for an easy weeknight dinner.

Aztec couscous tosses fluffy cumin-seasoned couscous with black beans, corn, jalapeno, red onion, cilantro, and fresh lime juice. A quick Southwestern grain salad ready in 20 minutes.

Louisiana crawfish boil with liquid crab boil, cayenne, bay leaves, honey, and citrus: 50 pounds of live crawfish cooked for 7 minutes, then soaked an hour to absorb spicy-sweet brine.

Romaine, shredded fennel, cauliflower, and red onion tossed in a bright lime-garlic dressing with paprika. A crunchy, no-cook side salad that's vegetarian and diabetic-friendly.

Vegetarian sweet potato risotto made with brown arborio rice and vegetable broth. Naturally creamy without butter, cheese, or constant stirring.

Cheddar cheese ball blends sharp cheddar with cream cheese, onion, Worcestershire, and Tabasco, then chills overnight and rolls in chopped nuts. Classic make-ahead party appetizer with crackers.

Salsa borracha (drunken sauce) with beer, butter-toasted chili powder, jalapenos, tomatoes, and garlic. A quick, bold enchilada sauce ready in 20 minutes.

Creamy sour cream and corn casserole topped with crumbled bacon, baked until bubbly. A smoky, garlicky side dish that goes with just about everything on the table.

Reuben burger pie with a ground beef and oatmeal crust filled with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, caraway seeds, and Thousand Island dressing. All the Reuben flavors in pie form.

Green corn tamales made from fresh corn ground with Monterey Jack cheese, whipped with lard and butter, filled with roasted green chiles and cheddar, steamed in the husks.

Pennsylvania Dutch chicken corn soup with saffron-yellow broth, tender noodles, sweet corn, and chopped hard-boiled eggs. Old-school county-fair comfort food.