Recipes with spices

Homemade sweet gherkins the old-fashioned way: a 4-day process of soaking, brining, and building layers of spiced vinegar-sugar syrup. Turmeric, cinnamon, and celery seed. Water bath canned for the pantry.

Low-fat vegetarian chili with kidney beans, bulgur wheat, and jalapeno ready in 30 minutes. Braised in vegetable stock instead of oil for a lighter, healthier bowl.

Bite-sized baked egg cups loaded with cheddar, Monterey Jack, green chiles, and cumin. Makes 30 mini appetizers that disappear the second they hit the table.

White bean chili with turkey, tomatillos, green chiles, and a cilantro yogurt cream. A leaner Southwest twist on red chili that tastes even better the next day.

Very simple cookies made with an almond-meal base. Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats, which have been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. They are also very high in vitamin E (a powerful anti-oxidant), magnesium and potassium (important for maintaining healthy blood pressure).

French cherry clafouti with brandy-macerated cherries baked in a puffy, golden custard scented with allspice and lemon zest. Rustic elegance that looks far harder than it is.

Layered whole wheat crumb cake loaded with cinnamon-walnut streusel and finished with a powdered sugar drizzle. Wholesome enough for breakfast, sweet enough for dessert.

Honey-soaked almond turnovers with a cinnamon-spiced filling wrapped in oil-based pastry dough. These Greek-style travados are baked golden, then bathed in warm honey syrup for a sticky, nutty bite.

Soft drop cookies bursting with chopped cranberries, fresh apples, cinnamon, and orange zest. This big-batch recipe makes 4 dozen fruit-studded cookies with a cakey, tender crumb.

No-cook black bean fiesta salad with corn, red peppers, red onion, and jalapeño in a zesty lime-cilantro-cumin dressing. Vegetarian, vibrant, and feeds a crowd in 20 minutes.

This bread pudding is moist and incredibly flavorful with a crunchy top. I make it every Christmas, or whenever a baguette is left out for too long, not that that ever happens in our house.

If you love cooking, you will love preparing this scrumptious dish that can satisfy anyone's hunger!

South Indian sambar with toor dal, potatoes, tomatoes, and tamarind in a spiced lentil broth finished with a mustard seed tempering. Serve with rice, idli, or dosa.

Homemade breakfast sausage blend with pork, veal, and warm spices like nutmeg, cloves, mace, and sage. Stuff into casings or shape into patties for fresh farm-style flavor.

Authentic Cajun blackened chicken with a spicy Paul Prudhomme-style seasoning rub. Cast-iron skillet seared at smoking-hot temperatures for the signature charred crust. Best done outdoors or under a commercial vent.

Hearty lamb shoulder chili with pinto beans, double paprika, cumin, and a secret hit of coffee. Seared, simmered, and fork-tender in 90 minutes. A bold twist on classic chili.

Felafel made with cooked chickpeas, garlic, cumin, and turmeric, then pan-fried golden and tucked into pita with a creamy yogurt-tahini sauce, lettuce, and tomato.

Mini cinnamon-apple coffee cakes made with pound cake mix, apple pie filling, and a cinnamon-walnut-graham cracker streusel layered inside. A shortcut brunch treat.

Earthy brown rice simmered with cumin, paprika, red bell pepper and oregano for a healthy, fragrant Spanish rice side dish. Just 5 minutes of prep and one pot to clean.

Traditional Indian soured lentils in tangy yogurt sauce with warming spices. A protein-rich vegetarian dish where mung dal meets creamy, fermented yogurt.

Kotopoulo Giouvetsi is a Greek one-pan roasted chicken with orzo baked in tomatoes, brandy, bell peppers, and cumin. The orzo cooks in the pan juices for deep flavor.

Wholesome honey-sweetened cookies packed with oats, whole wheat flour, raisins, chopped apples, and warm cinnamon. A chewy, nutty treat you can feel good about.

Chicken thighs marinated overnight in honey, sesame seeds, lime, and warm spices like cinnamon, cumin, and ginger. Grilled or broiled until sticky and caramelized with a gentle kick of cayenne.

Tender chicken thighs simmered in a creamy almond-yogurt sauce with warm spices like cardamom, cumin, and coriander. A budget-friendly korma that rivals your favorite takeout.

Hearty three-bean chili with black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans simmered in tomato-chili broth with bell peppers, topped with sour cream and fresh diced peppers. Meatless, protein-packed comfort.

Old-fashioned eight-day bread and butter pickles made in a crock with cucumbers soaked in boiling water, then cured in a sweet vinegar syrup reheated daily for extra crunch.

Easy sour cream coffee cake built on a doctored cake mix with a cinnamon-brown-sugar swirl running through a tender bundt. Vanilla and a whisper of lemon extract keep every slice moist and bright.

Rio Grande-style biscocitos with butter, anise seed, and brandy, dusted in cinnamon sugar before baking. Crisp, fragrant, and easy to cut into festive shapes. Makes 3 dozen.

Grilled tandoori chicken kebabs marinated in spiced yogurt with cumin, coriander, and ginger, threaded on skewers with blanched cauliflower and sweet red peppers. Bold Indian flavour, easy grilling.

Bread machine oatmeal applesauce bread with rolled oats, applesauce, and a touch of cinnamon. Tender, lightly sweet sandwich loaf with extra moisture and a soft crumb.

Maple-apple oatmeal cookies with real maple syrup, fresh apples, applesauce, currants, and a crunchy oat-brown sugar topping. Soft, cakey fall cookies baked low and slow.

Fluffy couscous pilaf with toasted coriander seeds, red bell pepper, cayenne, and cinnamon, finished with fresh mint. Served with a blended saffron cream of Neufchatel cheese and yogurt.

Honey-sweetened carrot raisin loaf made with whole wheat flour, lemon yogurt, and just two tablespoons of oil. Spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg for a wholesome quick bread.

Southwest ham and black bean rice salad with crunchy jicama, bell peppers, olives, and a cumin-chili vinaigrette. A sturdy one-bowl lunch or picnic-ready side.

Cincinnati-style 5-way chili spiced with cinnamon, chocolate, cardamom, and allspice. Served over spaghetti and topped with kidney beans, raw onion, and melted cheddar.

Pork tenderloin rubbed with oregano, cumin, ancho chile, and smoked paprika, seared golden then roasted alongside honey-glazed baby carrots with jalapeño and garlic. A smoky, one-pan dinner for six.

Potted chicken with bacon, butter, and warm spices baked in a water bath until silky. Old-world Irish preserve sealed under clarified butter for an old-school appetizer or sandwich spread.

Slow cooker pulled pork barbecue made with a 4-pound pork shoulder cooked overnight until fall-apart tender, then shredded in tangy barbecue sauce. Pile it on buns with dill pickles for Southern-style sandwiches.

Mango chutney built the slow way: a two-step simmer with brown sugar, cider vinegar, fresh ginger, garlic, lime, raisins, mustard seeds, and warm spices. Sealed into pint jars for the pantry shelf.

Ultra-moist zucchini cake loaded with cinnamon, chopped nuts, and vanilla, baked in a tube pan and smothered in tangy lemon cream cheese frosting. Shredded zucchini keeps every slice incredibly tender.

Diabetic-friendly cocoa cake made with liquid sweetener, egg whites, and minimal sugar. A meringue-folded chocolate layer cake for diabetic dessert needs without sacrificing flavor.

A fresh take on the traditional banana bread utilizing the widely-available persimmon – the national fruit of Japan. Persimmons are rich in vitamins A and C, and contain high amounts of manganese, a co-factor for the enzyme superoxide dismutase, for healthy mucous membranes and skin, as well as a known protectant against lung and mouth cancers. They are also an excellent source of fibre and B-complex vitamins.

Sugar sugar and more sugar is the main ingredient in most cranberry sauces. Following the paleo diet gives you the healthier upper hand for making your own sugar-free sauce with fresh cranberries.

A sweet and healthy treat (from Multiply Delicious).

Old-fashioned cold water cake with muscat raisins, warm spices, and no eggs or butter. A Depression-era boiled raisin cake that bakes up dense, spiced, and deeply satisfying.

Delicious, moist and nutritious muffins are great for breakfast.

Marinated grated tempeh simmered with kidney beans, tomatoes, green pepper, and warming spices for a thick, meaty vegetarian chili. Topped with cheddar cheese, this plant-based bowl is packed with smoky cumin and chili flavor.

Tex-Mex spiced chicken tossed with fresh mango, crunchy jicama, and bell peppers in a zesty lime dressing. Served in crispy microwaved tortilla bowls over shredded Bibb lettuce.