Recipes with green bell peppers

Pressure cooker black bean soup made from dried beans with no soaking, ready in well under an hour. Smoky or vegetarian, thickened with bulgur, and finished with cilantro and a splash of sherry.

Sweet and sour chicken with pineapple, bell pepper, and brown sugar-vinegar sauce. Two methods included: slow cooker (8-10 hours) or oven (2 hours). Serve over rice.

Chinese sizzling sweet and sour seafood with shrimp, scallops, and vegetables in a tangy sauce poured over deep-fried rice cakes for a dramatic tableside sizzle.

Persian kebabs marinate cubed lamb in lemon juice, garlic, and bay leaf, then thread the meat with tomato, green pepper, and eggplant for grilling. Bright, herby skewers built for the barbecue.

Calico salad is a colorful three-bean salad with kidney beans, green beans, and wax beans in a sweet vinegar dressing with chopped green pepper and onion.

Tri-pasta salad combines ziti, bow-tie, and spinach rotini with tri-color peppers, olives, and capers in a no-oil herbed red wine vinaigrette. Colorful, tangy, and low-fat for picnics and potlucks.

Baked Spanish eggs with crispy tortilla pieces, sauteed peppers, tomatoes, onions, green chiles, and cumin in an egg custard. A Mexican-style frittata baked in pie tins and cut into wedges.

Cheese and beer soup with cheddar, provolone, bacon, bell pepper, and chicken bouillon in a butter-flour roux base. Thick, creamy, and loaded with smoky, cheesy flavor.

Quebec poached salmon steaks gently cooked in a lemon court bouillon, chilled, then cloaked in a vivid green herb mayonnaise of spinach, parsley, scallion, and pepper. An elegant make-ahead cold salmon platter.

Chicken is coated with Italian dressing, then baked with assorted vegetables. It's an easy and tasty dish that's also good for you.

Moroccan-spiced chickpea and vegetable stew with zucchini, raisins, and tomatoes served over couscous. A fragrant, hearty vegan one-pot meal seasoned with cumin, cinnamon, and cayenne.

Slow cooker curry lentil stew with sweet potato, sherry, and warm spices. Indian-inspired vegetarian stew served over fragrant basmati or jasmine rice.

Turkey chili with dried black beans, a whole browned turkey breast simmered and shredded, and hand-toasted cumin seeds. A from-scratch, slow-simmered chili with deep flavor.

Spicy Thai cold pasta salad with red and green bell peppers, scallions, and toasted black sesame seeds in a hot sesame oil, brown rice vinegar, and mirin dressing. A fast vegetarian potluck salad served chilled.

Quick chicken stir-fry with snow peas, carrots, water chestnuts, and green bell pepper in a soy-ginger-garlic sauce thickened with cornstarch. Marinate the chicken, fire up the wok, and dinner is on the table in 15 minutes.

Scalloped corn deluxe casserole with fresh corn kernels, sharp cheddar, rose wine bechamel, and a buttery cracker-crumb topping. A retro side dish with serious holiday-table presence.