10,000 black pepper recipes

Provencal beef stew (daube) marinates chuck overnight in red wine vinegar, garlic, thyme, and orange zest, then braises low and slow in dry red wine for fork-tender meat with sun-soaked southern French character.

There are many ways of preparing adobo. In this recipe, the sauce is reduced to a rich savory glaze to coat the pork and chicken.

New England lamb bake is a rustic one-pot supper: tender braised lamb with leeks, carrots and herbs under a golden, buttery potato crust. A hearty cold-weather casserole, lamb hotpot New England style.

Minnesota-style clam chowder loaded with wild rice, potatoes, mushrooms, and cream. A Northwoods twist on New England chowder, finished with a splash of sherry before serving.

Smoky mushroom tart with sauteed shiitake and button mushrooms layered over smoked mozzarella in a blind-baked butter pastry shell, topped with Asiago and walnuts.

Swordfish marinade with soy sauce, orange juice, tomato paste, garlic, and lemon. A savory-citrus blend that caramelizes beautifully on the grill.

Kapernschnitzel, a German pan-fried veal cutlet with capers, white wine pan sauce, lemon, and paprika. A quick, elegant main dish ready in 30 minutes.

Spinach spaghetti with flounder, fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil, and white wine in a light olive oil sauce. An elegant Italian-style fish pasta ready in 30 minutes.

Rio Grande grits casserole layers creamy garlic grits with kielbasa, black beans, salsa, and melted cheddar. Tex-Mex meets Southern soul food in one bubbling baking dish.

Leftover turkey potato pot pie tops a creamy filling of turkey, mushrooms, mixed veggies, and cheddar with mashed potatoes instead of pastry. Quick Thanksgiving rescue meal, broiled until golden.

Five Lilies Chowder is an allium-lover's soup built from five members of the lily family: onions, shallots, garlic, leeks, and chives. A light, elegant chowder with white wine and sherry in a clear chicken broth base.

Kokoretsi recipe with lamb sweetbreads, heart, and kidneys marinated in lemon-oregano, skewered, wrapped in sausage casing, and grilled over charcoal.

Pasta with red clam sauce made from fresh littleneck clams steamed in white wine and fish stock, then tossed with tomato, basil, and oregano. Light, briny, and ready in 30 minutes.

Northwest seafood cioppino simmers white fish, shrimp, and oysters in a tomato-herb broth with onions, garlic, and basil. Pacific Northwest take on the Italian-American fisherman's stew.

Savory yam casserole layers thin-sliced sweet potatoes in a cayenne-spiked cream, then crowns them with a crunchy topping of saltine crumbs, parmesan, and pecans. A grown-up, not-sweet take on the holiday classic.

Braising can turn a tough piece of meat into a tender, fall off the bone, comfort food. I can think of no better example than the classic dish osso buco, made from veal shanks.