Recipes with black pepper

Ratatouille-topped chicken: pan-seared breasts blanketed in Provencal vegetable stew with eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes. Mediterranean weeknight dinner.

Mike's lasagne layers hot Italian sausage, ground beef, ricotta, and mozzarella between noodles with a red wine-spiked tomato sauce. Hearty, slow-simmered Italian-American lasagna.

Crispy deep-fried beef fritters that turn leftover roast beef into golden, crunchy bites. Chunks dipped in egg batter, dredged in seasoned flour, and fried hot. A smart way to use up the Sunday roast.

Fried chicken strips marinated in honey Dijon, dipped in buttermilk, breadcrumb-crusted, and served over mixed greens with crispy pancetta and honey mustard vinaigrette.

Fried chicken strips marinated in honey Dijon, dipped in buttermilk, breadcrumb-crusted, and served over mixed greens with crispy pancetta and honey mustard vinaigrette.

An Italian omelet. Unlike a French omelet where the egg is folded over the ingredients, the ingredients are actually mixed into the eggs.

Paella burgers: ground chicken, chopped chorizo, and shrimp patties flavored with saffron, garlic, and pinot noir, grilled and stacked on sourdough rolls with charred onion, red pepper, and a saffron aioli.

Paella burgers: ground chicken, chopped chorizo, and shrimp patties flavored with saffron, garlic, and pinot noir, grilled and stacked on sourdough rolls with charred onion, red pepper, and a saffron aioli.

Slow-roasted duck stuffed with oyster bread dressing and basted with a lemon-butter-thyme mixture until golden and crispy. A showpiece roast for holiday dinners and special occasions.

Ground pork burgers loaded with ginger, garlic, soy sauce, chile oil, and fresh cilantro, seared in a screaming hot skillet. Inspired by San Francisco's China Moon Cafe, served on crusty baguette with sharp Dijon mustard.

A very savory, Yucutan style tortilla chip that goes well with almost any salsa or dip.

Turning now to cooking with cheese, here's a recipe for a yummy spinach and cheese soufflé. This recipe comes from Lynne Kaplan, a chef who owns the Victoria House Bed & Breakfast in Spring Lake, NJ. For a gourmet B&B check them out at victoriahouse.net.

Traditional British honey-cured ham using salt, saltpeter, pepper, and honey rubbed and turned daily for a month before hanging to dry. An old-fashioned whole-ham curing method for serious charcuterie.

Freezer-friendly sweet and sour pork with pineapple, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, and a tangy soy-vinegar sauce. Make-ahead Chinese-American takeout classic that reheats like new.

Khoresht-e Fesenjan: chicken or lamb simmered in a rich, dark walnut and pomegranate sauce with saffron, cinnamon, and nutmeg. A beloved Persian stew served with rice.

French onion soup with caramelized Spanish onions, white wine, and beef broth, finished with a Jarlsberg, Swiss, and Parmesan crust under the broiler. Classic bistro soup, made at home.