Roasted garlic puree dip: silky cream cheese and blue cheese spread loaded with six heads of slow-roasted garlic. The party dip that turns garlic skeptics into believers.
Chicken coq au vin made weeknight-easy: browned chicken breasts braised with mushrooms, carrots, and onion in red wine, broth, and tomato paste. A lighter, faster take on the French classic, ready in under an hour.
Cajun-style guacamole with crumbled feta, Creole mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and white wine vinegar. Not your standard guac, this one has a Louisiana kick.
I used two cups of chicken broth, and 1 cup of water, still nice!
Boiled shrimp marinated overnight in a fiery herb oil with hot sauce, Old Bay, garlic, basil, oregano, and thyme. A bold, zesty appetizer that feeds a crowd. Makes 25.
Toasted vermicelli simmered in a smoky chipotle-tomato broth with oregano and garlic. This Mexican-style sopa seca is a one-pot side dish with serious smoky heat.
Tiny pasta shells tossed in a creamy Monterey Jack sauce with shrimp, minced clams, and a splash of dry sherry. A cozy, one-skillet seafood pasta ready in 45 minutes.
French-style steak salad with grilled flank steak, lemon-sauteed mushrooms, and red onion marinated in a herb vinaigrette with chervil, basil, and thyme.
Red lentil soup with paprika, bay leaf, dried mint, and parsley simmered in beef or chicken stock until the lentils dissolve into a thick, velvety potage. Puree optional.
Spicy jalapeno pesto with fresh basil, parsley, pine nuts, and garlic. A no-cook, no-cheese pesto with a kick of green heat that's ready in 5 minutes flat.
Green vegetable pasta soup loaded with leeks, cabbage, green beans, zucchini, peas, and orzo simmered in chicken broth. A bright, spring-forward one-pot soup finished with fresh herbs for a quick weeknight dinner.
No-cook spaghetti with raw tomato sauce, fresh basil, garlic, and extra-virgin olive oil. Served at room temperature, this Italian summer pasta is ready in 40 minutes.
Vegetarian stuffed green peppers Santa Maria style, filled with herbed rice, fresh tomatoes, walnuts, and marjoram, baked in olive oil until charred and tender.
Neapolitan mushroom soup with dried porcini and fresh mushrooms, plum tomatoes, marjoram, thyme, and an egg-yolk-Parmesan liaison thickener served over toasted Italian bread.
Neapolitan mushroom soup with dried porcini and fresh mushrooms, plum tomatoes, marjoram, thyme, and an egg-yolk-Parmesan liaison thickener served over toasted Italian bread.
Butter-browned chicken bakes for an hour in a tangy sour cream and sherry sauce with rosemary, thyme, mushrooms, and slivered almonds. Retro comfort food that never goes out of style.