Dry potato curry with mustard seeds, turmeric, cumin, and fresh ginger. Parboiled red potatoes tossed in a sizzling spice base for a sauceless Indian side dish ready in 35 minutes.
Garlicky black pepper shrimp and black-eyed peas is Low Country Southern cooking in one skillet: bacon, holy trinity, bay-scented peas, and wine-splashed shrimp finished with cracked pepper.
Tex-Mex beef meatballs with green chilies and cheese, served with homemade zesty tomato salsa and crispy tortilla chips. Mexican party appetizer ready in 75 minutes.
Crabmeat supreme casserole with two pounds of crab in a buttery sherry cream sauce with mushrooms, pimentos, and a cracker crumb topping. An elegant make-ahead dish.
SPAM salad with toasted almonds, celery, and dill relish served in crispy broiled tortilla cones. A fun, hand-held lunch with crunchy shells and creamy filling.
Fresh tomato salsa is the no-cook classic Mexican pico de gallo with chopped tomatoes, scallions, green pepper, jalapeño, garlic, lime, and cilantro. Bright, fresh, ready in 30 minutes.
Sweet and sour meatballs in pineapple-soy glaze with green pepper, served as a party appetizer or weeknight main over rice. Classic American-Chinese retro plate.
Hot sourdough bread bowl filled with a creamy chipped beef dip made from cream cheese, sour cream, and green onions. Baked in foil until warm and bubbly, then served with torn bread for dipping.
Aunt Ann's white chili: a lean, quick white chicken chili of cubed chicken breast, beans, green chiles, onions, and bell pepper. Cooked in nonstick spray, simmered briefly, ready in 50 minutes.
Texas caviar made from dried black beans slow-simmered with a smoky ham hock, then tossed with sauteed peppers, onions, and fresh tomatoes. A Lone Star classic side dish.
Grilled chicken breasts topped with a fresh gazpacho salsa of tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, and cumin. A light, no-cook Spanish-inspired summer dinner.
Steamed shrimp cooked shell-on in a spiced broth with celery, peppers, scallion, and a kick of cayenne. Serve the peel-and-eat shrimp with the cooking liquid for dunking garlic bread. Messy, casual, and fun.
Open-faced tuna melts on dark rye bread with celery, green pepper, black olives, and thyme topped with melted cheese. A lighter tuna melt using fat-free mayo and cheese.
Shrimp in tarragon-caper mayonnaise served open-faced on toasted English muffins with bell peppers, lettuce, and endive. An elegant no-cook lunch or light dinner.
Slow cooker Texican chili with bacon, cubed round steak, kidney beans, tomatoes, and vegetables. A hearty, Texas-meets-Mexican beef chili that simmers 10 to 12 hours until fork-tender.
Frittata Ranchera, a Tex-Mex style baked egg with sauteed onions, peppers, cubed ham, and ranch-style beans. A hearty skillet brunch or breakfast-for-dinner one-pan meal.