Recipes with spices

Crispy tortilla pizzas topped with fresh tomatillo salsa, chili-rubbed chicken strips, red onion, and melted cheddar. A fun Southwest twist on pizza night.

Heaven 'n' hell chili plays sweet against fiery: hot turkey sausage, pinto beans, cinnamon, and a splash of red wine. A Cincinnati-leaning twist on classic chili with tangy Catalina depth.

Cottage cheese blended with pumpkin purée, brown sugar, and warm spices makes a lighter, creamy filling for this graham cracker crust pie. Low-fat pumpkin pie that still satisfies.

Medieval-style salmon fish pie with figs, grapes, almonds, rosewater, and warm spices, tucked under a double pastry crust. A modern take on a vintage squid recipe.

Soft finger-shaped cookies packed with peanut butter, chopped apples, and brown sugar, rolled in powdered sugar. These tea sticks bake in one pan then cut into 24 dainty pieces.

Shahi dal is a royal Indian lentil dish with pigeon peas simmered in whole spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, then finished with a ghee-fried onion tadka. Vegetarian comfort food served over rice.

Aromatic chicken breast with orange, lemon, and ginger in spicy apple cider sauce. Bright, zesty flavors ready in 30 minutes for weeknight elegance.

Grilled chicken fajitas marinated overnight in Worcestershire, soy sauce, lime juice, cumin, and a shot of tequila. Served sizzling with sauteed peppers and all the fixings.

Much healthier than your regular cake, but still tastes delicious.

Creole pork chops with white beans: bone-in pork chops braised low and slow with white beans, holy trinity vegetables, tomatoes, and Creole seasoning. Louisiana comfort food in a Dutch oven.

Vintage gumdrop squares: chewy brown sugar bars studded with chopped gumdrops and walnuts, finished with a tangy orange butter frosting. A retro Christmas cookie tray treat.

Harvest apple pie with a brown sugar-nut praline topping baked over the top crust. A double-crust apple pie with a caramelized, crunchy finish.

Crispy fried samosas using egg roll wrappers filled with spiced potatoes, peas, cumin, coriander, and fresh cilantro. A shortcut Indian appetizer fried golden in minutes.

Baked eggplant halves stuffed with spiced couscous, tomatoes, scallions, garlic, and wheat germ, seasoned with cumin, chili powder, and turmeric. A satisfying vegetarian main ready in one hour.

Pumpkin banana nut bread with cinnamon and ginger, two kinds of sugar, and chopped walnuts. Makes two loaves of moist, spiced quick bread that freezes beautifully.

Tangy yogurt blended with cumin, turmeric, garam masala, coriander, and garlic for a classic tandoori marinade. Slather it on chicken, lamb, or fish and grill, broil, or roast for that smoky, spiced char.

Garlic-butter chicken breasts baked in a curried orange sauce with raisins, almonds, mandarin oranges, and sliced banana. A sweet-savory, Indian-inspired bake that's stunning over rice.

Mexicali pasta pie with a spaghetti crust, cottage cheese layer, and spiced ground pork with green chiles and tomatoes, topped with cheddar and crushed corn chips. All microwave.

Texas-style cowpoke pinto beans cooked low and slow with smoked bacon, salt pork, jalapeños, cumin, and chili powder. Crockpot or stovetop, freezes well for refried beans later.

Individual pineapple upside-down cakes baked in small Pyrex dishes with a homemade cinnamon-pineapple syrup and a pineapple ring in each. Buttery, caramelized, and portion-perfect.

Chickpeas, brown rice, and sweet corn bake with curry spices and caramelized onions for a hearty vegetarian casserole that's naturally vegan and filling.

Mediterranean oyster stew with tomatoes, potatoes, olives, capers, and a hint of cinnamon. A briny, hearty seafood stew that leans more Portuguese-Greek than New England chowder.

Slow-simmered Indian chicken curry built on 30 minutes of caramelized onions, whole cinnamon, cardamom, and a rich tomato gravy. Rested for maximum depth, this is weekend cooking that rewards your patience.

Whole wheat French toast with liquid egg substitute, skim milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Lower in fat and cholesterol than the classic, ready in 25 minutes for busy mornings.

Texas-style competition chili with cubed round steak, bold chili powder, and cumin simmered low and slow for 2.5 hours. No beans, no shortcuts, just pure beefy heat the way Texans do it.

Tender lamb stew meat braised in a fragrant blend of coriander, cumin, cardamom, turmeric, and ginger, then finished with a swirl of yogurt and fresh lemon juice. Serve over rice for a deeply aromatic Indian curry.

Chunky beef chuck and Spanish chorizo simmered for 3 hours in a bold, beer-laced chili with plum tomatoes, cumin, and Mexican oregano. No beans in the pot. This is Texas chili done right.

Bread machine cinnamon raisin bread with whole wheat flour, buttermilk, and vital wheat gluten. Hearty, soft, and loaded with cinnamon throughout every slice.

Brown lentils and long grain rice simmered with ghee, cinnamon, turmeric, and fresh green chili. A warming one-pot side dish ready in 45 minutes.

Wesley Pitts' award-winning Texas chili with beef chuck, ground pork, beer, mole powder, and masa harina thickening. The legendary Terlingua competition formula.

A chocolate banana bundt cake with two layers of streusel filling made from brown sugar, chocolate chips, pecans, and allspice. Moist from sour cream and mashed bananas, dusted with powdered sugar.

Tender beef simmers with warm cinnamon, cloves, and cumin, balanced by sweet raisins and red wine for an exotic slow cooker stew served over fluffy rice.

Reva's molasses sugar cookies: chewy, crackle-topped molasses cookies rolled in sugar before baking. Spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. The old-fashioned holiday cookie your grandma kept in a tin.

Homemade Funnel Cake Mix combines flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon - just add egg and milk, pour through a funnel into hot oil, and fry golden. County fair at home in 20 minutes.

Old-fashioned steamed persimmon pudding with cinnamon, rum, walnuts, and raisins. A dense, moist holiday dessert steamed for 2 hours in a pudding mold for a rich, spiced fruit pudding.

No need to use store bought seasoning mix. Control the salt level and use your own.

Seared rare tuna steaks sliced thin sit atop fluffy couscous, dressed with a citrus vinaigrette spiked with cumin and studded with orange segments. Fresh mint finishes.

Creamy pumpkin pie enriched with real maple syrup and warm spices bakes into a silky autumn dessert that tastes like fall in Vermont.

Birnensuppe, a chilled German pear soup scented with cinnamon and star anise, studded with sherry-soaked raisins and brightened with lemon. Silky, elegant, and refreshing. Serves 2.

A rice pudding style custard dessert from Louisiana.

Happy family stew braises beef chuck with plum tomatoes, green chilies, cumin, oregano, and Worcestershire for hours into a rich Tex-Mex-leaning beef stew. Served over rice for a one-pot crowd dinner.

Stuffed monster zucchini is the answer to a giant garden zucchini: halved, hollowed, and packed with a savory cumin-thyme rice and lentil pilaf, then baked until tender. A hearty, frugal vegan main.

Orange butter cake with fresh orange juice, zest, brown sugar, and graham cracker crumbs in the batter, finished with a Grand Marnier-spiked tropical cream cheese spread.

Festive pumpkin pie with a cream cheese-enriched filling, warm spices, and a sour cream topping baked right on. Part pumpkin pie, part cheesecake, all holiday showstopper.

Oven-puffed peaches and cream pancake: a dramatic Dutch baby with sliced peaches, pecans, and cinnamon baked into the custardy batter. Finished with an almond-scented sour cream drizzle.

Buttery shortbread bites rolled in paprika, cayenne, curry powder, and cumin. A savory, spice-crusted appetizer that's totally unexpected and completely addictive.

Bananas and pecan foster simmer halved bananas in a brown sugar, butter, orange juice, cinnamon, and toasted pecan sauce, served warm over vanilla ice cream. A New Orleans classic with a Southern pecan twist.

Orange carrot cake baked in a tube pan with grated carrots, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange zest, finished with a tangy orange glaze. A bright twist on classic carrot cake.