Herb-tomato grilled chicken brushed with a tangy ketchup, lemon, garlic, and basil basting sauce slipped under the skin so flavor reaches the meat. Smoky, juicy, charred bone-in chicken straight off the grill.
Homemade potato gnocchi from scratch, made with baked rather than boiled potatoes for a light, fluffy texture. Pillowy little dumplings ridged on a fork, boiled until they float, ready for any sauce you love.
These delicious popovers take advantage of lemon's strong affinity with freshly ground black pepper. They rise best in baked in deep molds in a very hot oven. One of the best ways to grate lemon peel is to remove the zest in strips using a vegetable peeler, then grind it to a powder in a spice mill.
Green noodles with a creamy mushroom and bacon sauce finished with fresh basil and Parmesan. Nearly two pounds of mushrooms make this a rich, earthy weeknight pasta.
Tender steamed broccoli florets draped in a silky homemade Parmesan cream sauce made with low-fat milk. A healthy vegetarian side dish ready in just 20 minutes.
Crispy General Tao's chicken coats golden fried chicken in a sticky sweet-and-savory sauce of brown sugar, soy, garlic, and ginger with a kick of chili. Better than takeout, easily made gluten-free with tamari, and ready in about 25 minutes.
Creamy homemade spinach soup thickened with a silky roux and brightened with a whisper of nutmeg. Ready in 30 minutes with simple pantry staples, this comforting bowl feeds six hungry people on a cold night.
Quick microwave chicken curry stir-fry tossed with crunchy peanuts, sweet chutney, coconut, and currants over wild rice. A 35-minute weeknight dinner with zero stovetop cleanup.
Warm brie melted over fresh herb sprigs, scored in a diamond pattern and ringed with baby pear tomatoes. A quick microwave appetizer served with crusty French bread for scooping.
A vegan cima roll: pureed tofu wrapped around a colorful filling of seitan, spinach, roasted red peppers, pistachios, and peas, then steamed into a sliceable log. Plant-based Italian showpiece.
This is a very colorful and tasty arrangement of marinated and then skewered and grilled vegetables and fish. The marinade, called chermoulla, is a blend of fragrant seasonings, oil, and lemon juice. In this version I've suggested my favorite vegetables for kebabs. You should choose your own favorites; some other good choices are eggplants, mushrooms, and onions.
This recipe is from a Toronto restaurant called "The Stockyards". There's no reason to settle for a boring average grilled cheese when it's so easy to kick it up a notch and create something very special.
Moroccan chickpea soup (Hasa Al-Hummus) with cilantro, garlic, hot chili, and lemon. A North African vegetarian classic with simple, bright flavors.
Layered salt cod baked with sliced potatoes, sweet peppers, onions, and ripe tomatoes in olive oil. A rustic Portuguese-style casserole topped with hard-boiled egg and fresh parsley.
Paillard of fresh fish with salsa beurre blanc: firm fish pounded ultra-thin, broiled 2 minutes, and topped with a French butter sauce spiked with salsa fresca. Ready in 20 minutes.
Oysters Veracruz: Mexican-style baked oysters topped with chipotle sauce and melted quesadilla cheese. A spicy, smoky twist on classic baked oyster appetizers.